Get ready Wallabies, some giant challenges are on the way

March 20, 2026 — 11:47am

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The Wallabies will open their season with a Test against Ireland in Sydney on July 4, a task that looks tougher now than it did at the start of the Six Nations in February.

The Six Nations has been superb. To say that the rugby was better than the Rugby Championship does a disservice to the quality of last year’s Sanzaar tournament, but the speed at which northern hemisphere sides have evolved their attacks is a warning to the Wallabies.

Against Scotland last weekend, Ireland’s No. 12 Stuart McCloskey - who, at 117kg, is the same size as NRL powerhouse Payne Haas - threw a perfect 20-metre left-to-right pass to his right winger, setting up a try from a well executed scrum move that used the entire field.

The Six Nations was full of such moments. The tournament highlighted skill development up north, leaving the Wallabies playing catch-up.........

© The Age