Mike Catt calls for calm as Ireland look to end 2022 on a high

Victory would complete the notable trifecta of beating Southern Hemisphere big guns Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in a calendar year, a feat last achieved by England in 2002 and 2003

MASTER AND APPRENTICE: Jack Crowley and Jonathan Sexton during Ireland's Captain's Run. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Beating a Test rival by 18 points when not at your best, as Ireland did against Fiji last week, is a hallmark of a pretty good team. Yet the criticisms of that Aviva Stadium performance last Saturday were entirely valid and have been echoed from inside the camp throughout this week’s preparations for Saturday night’s visit of Australia for a sell-out final Test of 2022.

Victory on Saturday would deliver a record-equalling 12th consecutive Ireland win on home soil and complete the notable trifecta of beating Southern Hemisphere big guns Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in a calendar year, a feat last achieved by England in 2002 and 2003, the year they also lifted the World Cup.