Andy Farrell's men are in Sydney for their eagerly-awaited Nations Championship opener against Australia, bringing back hugely positive memories of Ireland's 2018 series win Down Under, and last year's successful series for the British & Irish Lions.
The Lions overcame the Wallabies 2-1 with Farrell in charge, and he was the defence coach eight years ago when Ireland claimed their first series win on Australian soil since 1979.
James Ryan is one of eight returning players from the 2018 tour, and has helped Ireland to five victories in a row against Australia, including three November internationals at the Aviva Stadium in 2022, 2024, and 2025.
A second row starter on all five occasions, he know what it takes both mentally and physically to come out on top against the Green and Gold, but also rates their current team as 'very dangerous' opponents.
"I think on their day, Australia are an unbelievably good side," said Ryan. "I thought they were very good in the Lions series. How close was that second game? Obviously, they won the third Test.
"In the Rugby Championship, they beat South Africa away, which was huge. They beat them comfortably. So when they put their best performance together, I think they're a very, very dangerous.
"I think they're building a nice squad, a nice group with the World Cup (being held in Australia) next year.
"You've got a few guys that will come in from the rugby league, and there's guys like Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright, who bring a real X-factor.
"Les Kiss is coming in (as their new head coach in August). He will be a new mindset around how they want to play. Obviously with Joe Schmidt, he will want to finish on a high. I think they'll target this game as a big one for them."
Focusing on what is sure to be a big part of Saturday's clash, he acknowledged: "Obviously, Joe, a big part of his coaching is around the targeting bit around the ruck, so they'll be unbelievably efficient when it comes to their own breakdown as well.
"First three phases, we talk about that a lot, but that will be huge for us defensively on Saturday because he's an unbelievably creative, smart coach, as everyone knows.
"You also look at someone like Fraser McReight, he could have the most poaches in Super Rugby.
"He’s someone who is unbelievable over the ball. So the ruck will be massive. Probably both sides as well, to be fair."
Ryan and the rest of the Leinster contingent in Ireland's travelling party ended their club season on a high by becoming back-to-back BKT URC champions, beating the Vodacom Bulls in convincing fashion at Croke Park.
Since missing Ireland's Triple Crown-clinching win over Scotland with a calf injury, the 29-year-old has put together an impressive run of appearances in blue, including featuring in six play-off matches across the Investec Champions Cup and the United Rugby Championship.
Now back in international mode for the conclusion of a long but rewarding 2025/26 campaign, energy and excitement levels are visibly high in Ireland camp with their Southern Hemisphere debut now just days away.
They may be missing some key players due to injury, including captain Caelan Doris and Andrew Porter, but the momentum of Leinster's URC title win and the buzz around the five uncapped players involved have Farrell's charges raring to go.
With 22 starts in 23 appearances for province and country so far this season, Ryan admitted: "I feel great. I've played a lot (this year), it's good. I feel confident now.
"It has been a long season, but when you come in here, there's a freshness about it as well. It's such an exciting few weeks ahead.
"It was great to win the URC (with Leinster again). We had a good couple of days, and it was a big motivation for us to send off some of the guys that were finishing up in the right way.
"I think it’s such a tough competition to win now. I won the PRO14, as it were, when I started my career. I think the URC is a much tougher competition now to win.
"I think the big four South African teams have added a huge amount just in terms of the quality now of the league, so to win it was great."
Making a winning start to the Nations Championship would be significant, not just to put their first points on the board en route to finals weekend in London in November, but to follow up on the Triple Crown by beating one of the Southern Hemisphere's big three in their own backyard.
It will also be a valuable experience in getting used to Sydney's Allianz Stadium, the 42,500-capacity venue for Ireland's opening Rugby World Cup fixture against Portugal in October 2027.
Almost twelve months ago at the same stadium, Ryan was one of nine Irish players involved in the Lions' 21-10 defeat of the NSW Waratahs. The original Sydney Football Stadium, demolished in 2019, was where a Schmidt-coached Ireland sealed a 2-1 series win over the Wallabies in 2018.
Along with 80-times capped lock, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale, Tadhg Furlong, Jack Conan, and Tadhg Beirne played their part as they fought tooth and nail to come from behind during that series, winning in both Melbourne (26-21) and Sydney (20-16).
Keen to ensure that the New South Wales state capital remains a happy hunting ground for the men in green, Ryan reflected: "2018 was an unbelievable tour. We won the Grand Slam that season, but it's probably a different challenge coming down here.
"Whether you're going down to South Africa or Australia or New Zealand, just trying to prove a point really, which was great that we did. Then I think we had New Zealand that November, and we beat them at home, so it was brilliant.
"It gave us confidence at the time that we could beat the best in the world in the backyard when we were at our best."
He added: "I remember we lost the first one to Australia, (won) the game in Melbourne, and the last game of the series in Sydney we won.
"But my memory from that game was that behind the posts, it was just a full stand of green. It was mental. And that was my first season as a professional rugby player.
"It was just a step up in terms of the atmosphere and everything that went with all the games. I loved that tour. I think it was the first series we won in Australia for a long while. It was brilliant."
