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Australia legend Tim Horan explains what Ireland can expect against the Wallabies

Former Australia rugby international Tim Horan is expecting his country's November Series clash a...



Australia legend Tim Horan exp...
Rugby

Australia legend Tim Horan explains what Ireland can expect against the Wallabies

Former Australia rugby international Tim Horan is expecting his country's November Series clash against Ireland to be extremely close.

The two-time Rugby World Cup winner in 1991 and 1999 has seen the Wallabies beat Wales, and edge Scotland and France during the series so far.

But this Saturday, at the Aviva Stadium is an Ireland side that beat Australia's great Southern Hemisphere rivals New Zealand in Chicago at the start of the month.

Horan doesn't think there will be much in it by full-time.

"It'll be a very tough one. I think it's probably going to be the hardest one [for Australia]. I think England, we know how hard that's going to be [on December 3rd] and just this game tomorrow, I'm nervous about it," he said on Off The Ball.

"But I'm also very confident and believe in the fact that Michael Cheika has got this Wallaby team not far away. And even though we lost to the All Blacks six or seven weeks ago by a fair margin, in that 65th or 70th minute we were only about five points behind so if it can continue the momentum tomorrow, it's important not only for world rugby but for Australian rugby.

"It's going to be a close one but I'm proud of the Wallabies side and what they've achieved so far but these are the two big test matches coming up now, Ireland and England." 

In terms of players for Ireland to watch out for, Horan gave an insight into Reece Hodge who partners Tevita Kuridrani at centre.

"He plays for the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby and is a wonderful player. He's a big lump of a lad. He's about 100kg and about 6 foot 2. He probably doesn't have the ball skills of a natural 12 but is certainly a strong ball runner and can get across the advantage line and lay a bit of a platform for his forwards," he said.

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