Video: Wallabies captain Hooper reveals how they'll beat Ireland in 'Grand Final'
Michael Hooper said Australia are treating the deciding Test against Ireland in Sydney on Saturday as a "grand final".
Six Nations champions Ireland beat the Wallabies 26-21 in Melbourne last weekend to level the series at 1-1.
Australia can replace Wales in third spot in the rankings if they defeat Joe Schmidt's side in the final Test at Allianz Stadium before it is demolished and rebuilt next year.
Captain Hooper is desperate to get his hands on the Lansdowne Trophy after what promises to be a gripping showdown.
"It's certainly a big game. It's going to be a great game. We've talked it up as a Grand Final. There's a trophy on the line," Hooper said.
"When we rolled into Sydney, it was a pretty low mood after that game last week in Melbourne,
"It takes you a while to re-energise and realise the position we are in tomorrow night, the occasion that it is, and how it's going to be great for us and the fans alike."
Hooper was encouraged by the threat Australia posed with ball in hand despite slipping to a defeat in the second Test.
"[There is] a lot of upside in that we can score points," he added.
"Even right when the game is on the line we are able to put some nice attacking phases together. We looked at that [after the Melbourne Test] and thought that was really nice.
"In the negative of allowing them to control so much possession, you think if we changed a couple of things here we can get it back. We weren't that far off what we needed to do.
"Ireland put together a good game and squeezed us really nicely with how they made us give away penalties."
Australia can go third in the World Rugby rankings if they beat Ireland.
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Ben Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
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