Ireland skipper Peter O’Mahony says his team will have to top their unbeaten Six Nations run if they’re to level the Test series against Australia.

After their 18-9 opening-Test disappointment, Ireland are looking to rebound in game two on Saturday night in Melbourne to keep the series alive for a decider the following weekend in Sydney.

Ireland haven’t beaten the Wallabies for 38 years in Australia but, having made eight changes to start their strongest available team, this represents their best chance.

O’Mahony, handed the captaincy reins in the absence of injured regular skipper Rory Best, said his team needed to play better than they had in more than a year to break that long-standing record.

“We’re going to have to put in a performance that’s better than any performance we’ve put in over the last 18 months to beat this Australian side,” O’Mahony said on Friday.

“The quality that they have, their game plan – they’re one of the best teams in the world.

“We’re going to have to up our game from the standards that we set in the Six Nations, which we certainly didn’t do last week.”

The hard-working flanker said the loss, which was a first in the Ireland jumper for some in the team, made them really assess their flaws.

“We’ve taken those learnings and tried to work on them through the week and hopefully it will pay off,” he said.

“We’ve no doubt that Australia will be better on Saturday so that’s something we’re going to have to deal with.”

O’Mahony was asked if a description by ex-Test lock and now columnist Neil Francis this week of Australian flanker David Pocock as a “cancer on the game” was a view widely shared in Ireland.

“I certainly don’t think that’s the opinion we as a group or as a nation have of David,” O’Mahony said.

“He’s an incredible rugby player – you saw the impact he had last week – and I wouldn’t be standing by a comment like that.”