Veteran Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore is expecting early Rugby World Cup pool rivals Italy and Ireland to test Australia's much scrutinised scrum.

Australia start their campaign with a September 11 clash with 11th-ranked Italy followed by matches against Ireland (eighth), United States (18th) and Russia (19th).

Experienced hooker Moore, whose parents are Irish, has also warned against reading anything into Ireland's recent four-match losing streak, in which they have fallen to their equal lowest world ranking.

"Once the tournament starts, a bit of that form goes out the window because it is a tournament and anything can happen throughout the pool stages," Moore told reporters on Wednesday.

"I think we've seen that, history would suggest that. We are not taking any teams lightly, that's for sure, and Ireland are a very competitive side.

"We've always had close games against them, so I'm sure this one will be no different. Italy are a bit similar, actually."

No more than seven points have separated Australia and Ireland in their past three Test encounters.

"The last few times we've played them, it's been reasonably close, so they always compete pretty hard. They are a very passionate side and they use that scrum to try and get some ascendancy."

Australia have won all 13 of their Tests against Italy, but the European nation has invariably been competitive in their recent matches.

They haven't lost by more than 23 points in their past five encounters, while keeping the free-scoring Wallabies below 35 on each of those occasions.

"Italy have got a very good scrum and they are going to look to exert a bit of pressure there too, I'm sure," Moore said.

With 60 caps to his credit, 28-year-old Moore has accumulated more international appearances than the combined total of the four other front rowers in the squad for last weekend's clash with New Zealand.

The Wallabies were put through a punishing scrum session at training in Sydney on Wednesday.

Moore acknowledged Australia needed to improve on their scrum performance against New Zealand.

"I think maybe in the scrum the other night, they put us under some pressure there at the back end, but they are a quality scrum. They do that to a lot of teams. We'll look to work hard on that," Moore said.

He still has many relatives living in Ireland and expects to have to find 14 or 15 tickets for family members for Australia's second World Cup game.

"There's people coming from everywhere for that one, but I don't know whose side they will be on," Moore said.

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