Wright eager to end five-game losing streak as Wallabies host Ireland in Nations Championship opener

Australia fullback Tom Wright has called the upcoming Test against world number three Ireland a “really challenging” assignment, but insists the Wallabies are “chomping at the bit” as they look to snap a five-match losing streak against the Irish at a sold-out Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Ireland have not played on Australian soil since a three-Test series eight years ago, and the Nations Championship opener marks a career first for Wright and several of his teammates — none of whom have faced Ireland in front of a home crowd. The 28-year-old, who has 43 Test caps to his name, is under no illusions about the scale of the task.

“The threat that they pose as number three in the world, whether they’re home or away, is a pretty big climb for any team,” Wright told reporters in Sydney. “But it’s nice that we get them on our home deck for once.”

Australia’s last victory over Ireland dates back to June 9, 2018, when they won 18-9 in Brisbane. Since then, Ireland have claimed five consecutive meetings, including a memorable performance at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium last November when Australian-born winger Mack Hansen scored a first-half hat-trick to help seal the result.

Wright pointed to a strong Super Rugby season as grounds for optimism, suggesting the Wallabies’ club form has built genuine momentum heading into the international window. He also referenced the enthusiasm generated by the recent Lions series as evidence of the appetite for high-profile rugby in Australia.

“We saw how much enthusiasm and how much of a spectacle the Lions series was, and they’re obviously a strong contingent in that Lions team we saw,” he said. “We’re all chomping at the bit.”

The Nations Championship brings together the 12 best men’s teams from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with each southern side playing each Six Nations nation once. The results determine seedings ahead of a Finals Weekend at Twickenham. Australia’s home schedule during the July window also includes Six Nations champions France at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium and Italy at HBF Park in Perth, before the Wallabies travel north in November to complete their Nations Championship campaign.

Wright also welcomed the clarity the new competition format brings for supporters. “If I put my spectator hat on, I speak for my family, for instance, who can now follow the calendar season a lot more easily,” he said. “There’s something to refer to after a weekend or two of games — you can see who’s sitting in which slot.”