Milestones aside, Wallabies visit will define Ireland's autumn

Ireland mark 150 years of rugby heritage and Cian Healy's record, but winning still number one.

CENTRE STAGE: Cian Healy (middle) at the Ireland Captain's Run at Aviva Stadium with (L-R) Caelan Doris, IRFU President Declan Madden Joe McCarthy, Garry Ringrose, Finlay Bealham and Andrew Porter. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Amid all the intriguing plotlines surrounding this IRFU 150th Anniversary match between Ireland and Australia at Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Caelan Doris went straight to the crux of the matter as he looked forward to an afternoon of milestones.

As important as it is to recognise Ireland’s rich rugby past and to celebrate Cian Healy’s record-breaking Irish-record 134th Test cap; as pleasing as it will be to afford former head coach Joe Schmidt the warmest of welcomes on his return to Dublin as Wallabies boss, Doris acknowledged on the eve of the match that this is a match that will define his side’s Autumn Nations Series campaign.