Both Australia and Ireland are in a questionable position this week according to Australia hooker Stephen Moore.

Although the sides had big wins at the weekend, Australia trouncing Italy and Ireland running in second-half tries against Samoa, the hooker with a strong Irish background believes both teams have something to prove on Saturday in Aviva stadium.

The last time they met was the World Cup meeting in September 2011 at Auckland’s Eden Park, where Ireland won 15-6, but the one-time Galway resident says that is water under the bridge and with many games played since then as well as a new coach in Ewen McKenzie, the 2011 result is of little value.

“It’s a pain that loss in Twickenham,” said Moore of the Wallabies’ recent defeat in Twickenham. “But any time you can score 50 points is pleasing. It means you must be doing something right.

“I guess both teams (Ireland and Australia) are in similar positions. Both had big wins at the weekend. They probably didn’t convince too many people where they are at so we’re both probably in a questionable position.

“Ah look I think that’s the last time we played them,” added Moore referring to the Eden Park scoreline. “We certainly spoke a little bit about it, not too much. Played a lot of Tests since then so I like to think that won’t be a factor.”

Moore was born in Australia to Irish parents but came to live in Galway before leaving when he was five. As a teenager the IRFU investigated his Irish heritage but Moore was one frontrow who got away.

“That was a long time ago very early on in my career when I was 19 or 20 and I wasn’t really thinking about playing internationally,” he explained.

“I was only playing under-19 rugby in Brisbane so there was a bit of interest there with my background.

“I think at the time my head was spinning a little bit about everything. But I’d been in Australia since I was five years old and I consider myself a proud Australian.”