Gary Gray: The Irish influence is the song in an Aussie soul

Australian Ambassador to Ireland Gary Gray writes exclusively for the Irish Examiner ahead of the big match: 'I will be cheering as the Wallabies step up to stop this brilliant Irish team'

AUSSIE INFLUENCE: Mack Hansen will start for Ireland on Saturday against his native Australia. Here having fun with Joey Carbery before the clash with Fiji

The Irish influence on Australia? It is in the very marrow of our bones, the song in our souls, the spring in our step.

So enormous was the influx of Irish people into Australia – some free to work around above decks, others in chains as convicts – that the Emerald Isle will forever be in our DNA. No fewer than two million Australian people claim Irish descent, representing about 10% of the Australian population.