'It becomes very monotonous': Grave fears raised as Wallabies step up in class against Ireland at their Dublin fortress

Ex-Wallabies star Cameron Shepherd has warned Australia will get hammered by Ireland if they repeat the tactics used in last weekend's dismal loss to Italy.

Joe Schmidt's side were upset 26-19 in Udine and the coach admitted his players appeared flat as they trudge towards the finish line of a gruelling 15 Test season that was centred around the British and Irish Lions series.

Australia's narrow attacking shape was swallowed up by Italy last weekend and the Wallabies now step up in class against world No.3 Ireland at their Aviva Stadium fortress in Dublin.

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"There's no room around those pods. There's also no-one in motion," Shepherd said on Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven while rewatching the Italy video nasty.

"You can see Tane Edmed pops in and out, but really the Australian backline doesn't have any deception out the back. We're not looking to move back down the blindside, we go the same way over and over and over again, and it becomes very monotonous.

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"Italy know what's coming around the corner each time, it makes their defensive job very, very easy. They know who's going to be the ball receiver, they line up in front of him, just waltz up, and they make a tackle.

"We only made the gain line 43 per cent of the time. It's too predictable, what we're doing in attack, and second to that, we just don't have enough motion to create deception in the defensive line."

The return to the backline of England-based stars Len Ikitau and James O'Connor should help Australia's shape, direction and decision making enormously.

John Eales Medallist Ikitau has slotted back at inside centre in place of Hunter Paisami while O'Connor starts at No.10 instead of Carter Gordon, who has a quadriceps niggle.

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"Massive. Not that Paisami hasn't been great, but we have missed a little bit by not having Lenny Ikitau at 12," Shepherd said.

"He's just a very classy player, not only in wide backline plays, but he doesn't shirk away from the hard stuff. He'll go looking for the ball, he'll pick and drive, he'll clean out, so he's a huge inclusion."

Former Wallabies prop Matt Dunning also identified Ireland halfback Jamison Gibson-Park as a key man.

"He's a genius on those box kicks," Dunning said.

"They're high and they stay up there forever and every one's contestable and on the money, and that's a big part of the game. And if we don't do well at that, what happened against England? The first 15 points were from box kicks.

"If we don't diffuse that, we'll be out of the game before we get a chance to play."

Both Shepherd and Dunning hoped they were wrong but expected Ireland to win.

"They're beatable, they're definitely beatable, but if the Wallabies play that similar sort of style as they played last weekend, it could be an ugly day at the office, because that's not how you beat a team like that," Shepherd said.

"I don't want to make fatigue an excuse, but I think it's been a long year, I think Ireland will beat us, and they'll beat us quite well. I'm looking to see the Wallabies just play a better game of football."

IRELAND (15-1): Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris (c), Ryan Baird, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Paddy McCarthy

Reserves: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Nick Timoney, Cian Prendergast, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Bundee Aki

AUSTRALIA (15-1): Max Jorgensen, Filipo Daugunu Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, James O'Connor, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Jeremy Williams, Allan Alaalatoa, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell

Reserves: Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Zane Nonggorr, Nick Frost, Carlo Tizzano, Ryan Lonergan, Tane Edmed, Andrew Kellaway