Australia v Ireland: Schmidt backs recalled Scannell to galvanise Irish pack

Recalled hooker Niall Scannell won the last of his seven caps in Japan in 2017

Joe Schmidt has backed Niall Scannell's scrummaging ability over Sean Cronin after recalling him for Saturday's second Test against Australia.

The Ireland coach has selected the Munster hooker ahead of Cronin in one of eight changes to the Irish team that lost the opening Test 18-9 in Brisbane.

Cronin had replaced Rob Herring during the first Test but is left out of this week's squad with Herring on the bench.

"It's an opportunity for Niall to galvanise that pack," said Schmidt.

It was a decisive late scrum penalty on Ireland's try-line that swung the first Test towards Australia in their two tries-to-nil win.

"Niall Scannell played right through the Six Nations last year for us. When he got his opportunity when Rory Best was unwell, he did a super job," Schmidt explained.

"We're giving him another opportunity to impress.

"He's a good scrummaging hooker and that will add a little bit to an area where we weren't as strong as we normally are.

"With Niall, it is a real opportunity to take a step forward at scrum time."

Big response

After Ireland's first defeat in 13 internationals, Schmidt is looking for a big response in Melbourne against an unchanged Wallabies side.

"We trained well on Thursday, we were a little bit flat on Tuesday as it took some players a little bit of time to find their feet," he added..

"I'd like to think we've got a bit more rhythm to us.

"One of the really good things in this year's Six Nations was I felt we built through it and I'm hoping to build through this tour.

"With Australia naming the same team, we're very confident that they'll come well prepared and they'll improve their game a little bit, so we've got to improve that little bit more because I felt they were very good last Saturday,"

Scannell, who was drafted into the Ireland squad as a late replacement for Ireland skipper Rory Best, won the last of his seven caps in Japan in 2017.

He will be making his fourth Test start and completes the new-look front row alongside Tadhg Furlong and Cian Healy.

James Ryan is joined in the second row by Devin Toner and openside flanker Dan Leavy also returns to the starting line-up alongside captain Peter O'Mahony and CJ Stander.

Australia captain Michael Hooper believes his side can improve their lineout performance

Wallabies address lineout issues

Meanwhile, Australia captain Michael Hooper believes Caleb Timu will be a major threat to Ireland in Saturday's second Test.

The loose forward made his debut in the opening game and fellow loose forward Hooper is keen for Timu to get on the ball more, particularly in the wide channels.

"He's such a threat with ball in hand," Hooper said of the 24-year-old.

"It was Caleb's debut game (in the first Test) so he was getting a feel for it.

"I'm expecting him to understand the pace tomorrow and come out without those pre-game nerves to get his hands on the ball because he's such a threat."

Hooper also revealed that Australia have been working on their lineout this week as they prepare for what could be a series-clinching encounter at AAMI Park.

The home side had issues with their lineout in the first Test, with hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa also making his debut.

"It's such a huge area of the game," Hooper said of the lineout.

"We think we can get better in the scrum, and we definitely can get better in the lineout just with our sharpness.

"So, we spent a good amount of time (on the lineout) without getting too bogged down."