Ireland arrive in Sydney with an old friend determined to make it a bumpy landing

It's been a long Wallaby goodbye for Joe Schmidt but as he prepares to hand over the reins in Australia, there's a sense that his players would like to express their gratitude via a statement against Ireland next week

HARBOUR CRUISE: Ireland's Ciarán Frawley, Sam Prendergast, Robbie Henshaw and Jamie Osborne take a ferry to Manly after touching down in Sydney ahead of their opening July 4 fixture against Australia in the southern hemisphere portion of the inaugural Rugby Nations Championship. Pic:  Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Joe Schmidt has already twice delayed his plans to finish up with the Wallabies over the past 12 months, but the beginning of the end is now very much on the horizon for the coach, and Australia’s players have vowed to use his impending departure as motivation to send him out a winner.

The former Ireland coach only ever signed on with Rugby Australia to lead the Wallabies through to the end of the British and Irish Lions series.