Australia's ailing Wallabies have promised to "put in a shift" for coach Joe Schmidt at his old Irish stamping ground to give him the perfect send-off in what shapes as his farewell Test in Dublin.
Schmidt, returning for the last time with the Wallabies to the city where he's revered as perhaps Ireland's greatest coach, has recalled veteran playmaker James O'Connor and player-of-the-year Len Ikitau to stop the rot amid a crumbling campaign in Europe.
Having lost five of their last six Tests and following dismal defeats to England and Italy, Schmidt hopes O'Connor, who orchestrated Australia's amazing win over the Springboks at Ellis Park, can again "refresh" a battered-looking outfit in the No.10 shirt.
With Ikitau back to team up with Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii and Max Jorgensen fit again after tonsillitis to fire from fullback in Saturday's Test against his former assistant Andy Farrell's Ireland, Schmidt said: "There's a bit of wear and tear -- and James just brings a bit of freshness."
Jorgensen admitted the team wanted to repay Schmidt, who's taken some stick after recent performances, for what he's done for the game in Australia.
"Definitely. Joe's been great for us over these past two years and has really turned the team around from what it was," said Jorgensen.
"We can send him off on a high with these last two games (against Ireland and France), especially against Ireland, where he was coach. It's something we can definitely harness and put in a good shift for Joe."
O'Connor, known affectionately as "Peter Pan", looks key to any rejuvenation on Saturday at Lansdowne Road after ending his holiday in Morocco to take the reins in his first Northern Hemisphere Test for four years.
As key back-rower Rob Valetini noted: "You see the experience he has, it gives you confidence you'll be able to use the ball well. That comes with experience. And you know how many games he's played at this level."
In the ever-revolving door of Wallaby 10s — five different starting fly-halves have been employed this year — O'Connor comes in for Carter Gordon, who suffered quad tightness in the loss to Italy, with Schmidt not prepared to risk him in the 23.
Tane Edmed, who lost his place to Gordon after the England hammering, is again on the replacements bench.
Jorgensen, asked to ignite the team from fullback rather than the wing, said: "We really know we haven't been at our best these past two games, and we're really looking to switch that up."
He's charged with helping reignite their stuttering attack as they seek to nail down a top-six ranking spot which will be crucial in the upcoming World Cup draw.
In the front row, Allan Alaalatoa also returns, with Taniela Tupou rested after his "decent workload", but the added boost of fellow prop Angus Bell being fit to start.
There's a reshuffle with Tom Hooper shifting to lock alongside Jeremy Williams, while Valetini starts at blindside flanker to join familiar forces with Fraser McReight and skipper Harry Wilson in the back row.
Valetini was adamant they were up for the fight against the world's No.3 side, who have their favourite Australian import, Canberra's Mack Hansen, back playing for them at fullback.
It all began, he said, at a "tough" Tuesday training session, the Wallabies' first after the Italy defeat.
"We all felt pretty bad, and there were a lot of bangs going around in training. The whole squad really ripped in through training, and we're hoping that can transfer to the weekend," said Valetini.
Wallabies team
1. Angus Bell, 2. Matt Faessler, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Jeremy Williams, 5. Tom Hooper, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson; 9. Jake Gordon, 10. James O'Connor, 11. Harry Potter, 12. Len Ikitau, 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14. Filipo Daugunu, 15. Max Jorgensen.
Replacements: 16. Billy Pollard, 17. Tom Robertson, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Carlo Tizzano, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Tane Edmed, 23. Andrew Kellaway.
