‘No reason we can’t deal with the pressure’

Added expectation? Paul O’Connell has been playing under the burden of it for years and the Ireland captain sees no reason why his side cannot deal with it when they play Australia in Dublin this afternoon.

The 29-15 victory over world number two side South Africa two weeks ago and last Monday’s elevation to number three in the rankings has seen hope replaced by expectation among Ireland supporters that Joe Schmidt’s side can beat the Wallabies at a sold-out Aviva Stadium this afternoon to round out an unbeaten 2014 Guinness Series and complete a first November sweep since 2006.

It would be a seventh win a row since losing narrowly to England at Twickenham in February and despite the gathering momentum O’Connell believes his Six Nations champions are dealing admirably with their new-found and unfamiliar status as favourites against a Southern Hemisphere giant.