It is critical that the Wallabies’ finish the year on a high against Ireland this weekend.

The feelgood factor from the wins against England and Wales will fade if the Wallabies struggle against an Irish side clearly looking for a statement performance of their own before coach Andy Farrell begins his British and Irish Lions duties.

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and teammates react after the defeat in Scotland.Credit: AP

It has become evident over the past month that Ireland and Scotland are going to provide the bulk of Farrell’s Lions squad. After a disappointing performance against Scotland, the Wallabies have to fire against the Irish but to do so they’ll have to contend with Ireland’s choice at No.10 and a warning contained in a column former referee Wayne Barnes wrote this week.

“Dangerous territory,” was how Barnes viewed the World Rugby-pushed interpretation of the breakdown in a piece for the Telegraph in London.

It was a succinct summation of the November Tests and captured in two words something that had been........

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