Irish Rugby

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Loose-head prop Dian Bleuler will make his Munster debut against the Lions at Thomond Park on Saturday night.

The 25-year-old South African, who has United Rugby Championship [URC] experience with the Sharks, was signed to a short-term deal last week to ease the province's injury concerns in the front-row.

The game is the first competitive fixture for Munster since former head coach Graham Rowntree left the side after three straight defeats, with interim boss Ian Costello taking charge of a URC game for the first time.

He has given a league debut to Evan O'Connell, nephew of former Munster captain Paul O'Connell, in the second-row.

The 20-year-old came off the bench in Munster's exhibition defeat to an All Blacks XV this month.

Centre Alex Nankivell and wing Thaakir Abraham both make their returns from injury with Munster looking to improve on their 12th place in the standings.

Munster: Haley; McCarthy, Farrell, Nankivell, Abrahams; Burns, Coughlan; Bleuler, Barron, J Ryan; O’Connell, Wycherley; O’Donoghue, Kendellen, Coombes.

Replacements: Scannell, K Ryan, Archer, Quinn, Hodnett, Patterson, Butler, Daly.

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says handing the reins to Simon Easterby while he temporarily steps aside to focus on the British and Irish Lions will be a "seamless" process.

With Farrell set to lead the Lions for the first time in next summer's tour to Australia, defence coach Easterby will step up for Ireland's Six Nations defence and a summer tour.

Farrell will sign off against Joe Schmidt's Australia on Saturday but is comfortable leaving Ireland in Easterby's "unbelievably diligent" hands.

"We've been working together long enough now to agree on how this team needs to be driven forward with us all involved," said Farrell.

"All our ideas over the years, that will continue. Simon is unbelievably diligent and the right man for the role as far as leading from the front.

"We've had the experience there and we've seen the credentials there and we know it's going to be a seamless one."

When asked about the importance of securing a win against the Wallabies on Saturday before switching focus to the Lions, Farrell added: "Honestly, to me, I've not really give it much thought.

"The only thing that drives me on is planning for the future of this team and that's only been at the forefront of my mind, certainly over the last six months anyway.

"It just so happens that we're here on a big game with the last game, but after that what will be will be. We'll turn that page when we get to it."

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Ulster return to action on Friday evening when they host Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (19:35 GMT). The game will be shown live on BBC Two Northern Ireland, the iPlayer, website and app.

Before the match, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy spoke to BBC Sport NI's Gavin Andrews.

Busy upcoming schedule against top teams:

"I think the lads are excited. I think everyone knows what we are getting into. Facing teams like Leinster, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Munster and obviously Connacht on the back end of that, but also some very tight turnarounds involved.

"We know what’s coming, we know our squad depth is going to be tested. We are also carrying a few injuries at the moment but we are working hard to be the very best we can be on those particular nights."

Cormac Izuchukwu’s Ireland debut against Fiji:

"Delighted for Izzy to get his first cap – he’s been in a fair few camps over the last nine months – when you’re in there you can feel the relief of a player when he gets his first cap. Let’s hope he can kick on."

Ireland internationals returning to Ulster:

"You just want them to come back with an energy and enthusiasm for what we’re doing here."

On facing Leinster:

"Leinster at this moment are definitely the top team in our league. They’ve won six from six – they’re conceding very few points this year and they’re probably a different Leinster to what we have seen previously.

"It’s hard to pick holes in how they defend, so lots of pressure in and around the breakdown, lots of pressure at set-piece, both scrum and lineout.

"We’ll have to be very clever in relation to how we use the ball and we also need I suppose the ref to be strong in those areas.

"It’s definitely a good time to play them because they’re missing maybe 18 players but with the 18 players they’re missing they just replace them with very, very good players."

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Australia centre Joseph Suaalii has been passed fit to face Ireland on Saturday and is named in a side that shows six changes from last weekend's defeat by Scotland.

The rugby league convert, who made his debut against England earlier this month, was forced off in the early stages of the Murrayfield game amid fears he had suffered a broken wrist.

"Joe's fine, he got one of those stingers where he had a bit of a dead arm," said Australia coach Joe Schmidt at Thursday's team announcement.

"We felt it was better to get it properly assessed and we couldn't hold the game up to do that so we took him out of the game against Scotland."

The Wallabies coach - who was in charge of Ireland from 2013 to 2019 - makes five changes to his pack, including recalls for props James Slipper and Taniela Tupou.

Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams pair up in the second row, with the latter having recovered from the illness that ruled him out of the Scotland Test.

• Ireland pick Prendergast over Crowley to face Australia

Queensland's Fraser McReight is drafted into the back row with captain Harry Wilson and flanker Rob Valentini the only forwards retained from last week's starting line-up.

Props Angus Bell and Allan Alaalatoa plus lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto drop to the bench after starting against Scotland with Will Skelton and Carlo Tizzano not named in the match-day squad after being included in the XV last weekend.

There is one change from last weekend's starting backline as Max Jorgensen is named at wing in place of Harry Potter, who made his debut in Edinburgh and will be on the bench in Dublin.

Waratahs fly-half Tane Edmed is in line for his first cap after being named among the replacements.

Australia: Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou; Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight; Harry Wilson (capt)

Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Harry Potter.

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Ulster's Ireland hooker Tom Stewart is in line to make his first appearance of the season for the province after being named in the replacements for Friday's United Rugby Championship game against Leinster at Kingspan Stadium.

Stewart has been out of action so far this season because of an ankle injury.

Prop Scott Wilson will make his first start of the campaign as he is named in place of the Ireland-tied Tom O'Toole in one of five changes to the starting line-up from the defeat by Cardiff a month ago.

On that occasion, Ulster squandered a 19-0 half-time lead as they lost 21-19.

Stewart Moore takes over at full-back from Ethan McIlroy while Ben Carson is drafted in at centre, with Stuart McCloskey unavailable because of his commitments with the Ireland squad.

With Iain Henderson and Cormac Izuchukwu both on Ireland duty, Alan O'Connor returns to the second row and will skipper the side while James McNabney is handed a back-row start.

Wing Zac Ward is unavailable after being concussed in Ulster's A game against their Connacht counterparts last weekend while coach Richie Murphy is also without Robert Baloucoune (calf), Jake Flannery (ankle), James Hume (knee), Callum Reid (knee), Ethan McIlroy (ankle) and Sean Reffell (ankle).

Leaders Leinster make 11 changes from their last outing against the Lions but are still able to include Ireland internationals Jack Conan, Ross Byrne, Jimmy O'Brien, Jordan Larmour, Luke McGrath, Will Connors and Max Deegan.

Leinster's bench includes Springboks star RG Snyman, Scott Penny and the second of their Byrne fly-half brothers Harry, who is also an Ireland international.

Leo Cullen's side lead the United Rugby Championship table by six points after their six opening wins while Ulster are 13 points off the pace in seventh spot after mixing three wins with three defeats.

Ulster: Stewart Moore; Werner Kok, Ben Carson, Jude Postlethwaite, Michael Lowry; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Eric O'Sullivan, James McCormick, Scott Wilson; Alan O'Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell; James McNabney, Nick Timoney, David McCann.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Andy Warwick, Corrie Barrett, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, John Cooney, James Humphreys, Ben Moxham.

Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Jordan Larmour, Liam Turner, Charlie Tector, Andrew Osborne; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Jack Boyle, John McKee, Rabah Slimani; Diarmuid Mangan, Brian Deeny; Max Deegan, Will Connors, Jack Conan (capt)

Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Rory McGuire, RG Snyman, James Culhane, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Scott Penny,

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Ireland men's sevens captain Harry McNulty has announced his retirement from rugby.

The 31-year-old led Ireland at this year's Paris Olympics and made over 140 appearances after making his debut in 2015.

McNulty also represented Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and was part of the Irish team that won a bronze medal at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.

"Little did I know in 2015 when my mom signed me up to an open day for the 7s program, it would all turn out like this," said McNulty.

"From Bosnia to Paris, it’s been a pretty wild ride and one that I will cherish forever."

He added: "I’ve travelled the world and have made friends in every corner of the planet.

"Core status qualification, 2x World Cups, 2x Olympics, captaincy and memories last lifetime. What a ride!

"For now the boots may hang but the door remains open and I’m excited for what the future holds. It’s the right time to put my energy into the next stage of my life."

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Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell has ruled himself out of taking over the vacant head coach position at Munster Rugby.

The former Munster captain won a pair of Heineken Cups and three league titles as a player at Thomond Park.

Former England prop Graham Rowntree left his position as Munster head coach in October after three consecutive United Rugby Championship [URC] defeats.

The 45-year-old O'Connell had been one of the names linked as his successor but said he will not be taking the position "in the short term" as he continues to prepare Ireland for their final Test match of the year against Australia on Saturday.

“No, I have no interest in it,” he said.

“Certainly in the short term, anyway. I just hope they get the right man.”

Two of Rowntree's assistants, Denis Leamy and Mike Prendergast, signed contact extensions until 2027 this week, but there has been no announcement on who will head up the ticket moving forward, while forwards coach Andi Kyriacou also left the province last week.

Head of rugby operations Ian Costello is currently acting as head coach on an interim basis, while Alex Codling has been brought in as forwards coach consultant until the end of season but will also remain in his current role as forwards coach for the Ireland women's team.

Munster host the Lions in URC action on Saturday evening.

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Ulster wing Zac Ward has been ruled out of Friday's United Rugby Championship game against Leinster (19:35 GMT), but Tom Stewart is in line to return.

Ireland Sevens player Ward, who joined Ulster on a trial basis after the Olympics, sustained a concussion in Ulster A's game against Connacht Eagles last week.

Ben Moxham is a doubt for Friday's game after injuring his hamstring in the same fixture, while Jacob Stockdale (hamstring) is also out after being forced off during Ireland's win over Fiji last weekend.

However, Ireland hooker Stewart is on track for his first appearance of the season after recovering from an ankle injury.

Centre Stewart Moore is also available for selection, as is back row Nick Timoney, who has been released from the Ireland squad.

Ulster are also without Robert Baloucoune (calf), Jake Flannery (ankle), James Hume (knee), Callum Reid (knee), Ethan McIlroy (ankle) and Sean Reffell (ankle).

The URC returns from its four-week international break. Ulster lost to Cardiff in their last outing before the break while Leinster travel to Belfast having won all six games this season.

Leo Cullen's side are without their Ireland internationals but this week welcomed Jack Conan, Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O'Brien back to full training.

Watch Ulster v Leinster on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website from 19:15 GMT.

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Jacob Stockdale, Tadhg Furlong, Ryan Baird and Jamie Osborne have been ruled out of Ireland's final autumn international against Australia on Saturday.

Ulster wing Stockdale (hamstring) and Leinster full-back Osborne (abductor) were forced off during Saturday's win over Fiji.

Speaking about Osborne's injury, Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell said: "He's a big loss. He's very versatile on the bench obviously, he covers so many different positions and is growing and getting better all the time.

"It's a shame he's out. Hopefully it's nothing too serious and he's back to us soon."

Leinster lock Ryan Baird was ruled out of the Fiji game with a head injury while prop Tadhg Furlong has missed the entire autumn campaign with a hamstring issue.

O'Connell also confirmed that Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Nick Timoney (Ulster) and Jack Boyle (Leinster) have been released back to their clubs before the United Rugby Championship's return this weekend.

After bouncing back from a defeat by the All Blacks with wins over Argentina and Fiji, Ireland host Joe Schmidt's Wallabies at Dublin's Aviva Stadium at 15:10 GMT on Saturday.

Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website & app and follow live text updates on the BBC Sport website and app.

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Australia centre Joseph Suaalii could regain fitness in time to face Ireland on Saturday after sustaining an arm injury in last Sunday's defeat by Scotland.

There had been fears that the rugby league convert, who made his Wallabies debut against England earlier this month, had broken his wrist after being forced off early at Murrayfield.

An injury update from Australia said: "Joseph Suaalii lost function and had severe pain in his right arm and was substituted.

"After travelling with the team to Ireland, his function is returning, and pain is subsiding. He was medically reviewed post-game and there is no evidence of a fracture and will be monitored throughout the week."

Lock Jeremy Williams, who pulled out of the Scotland game because of illness, is "recovering positively" but forward Will Skelton is unavailable.

Skelton has been recalled to his club La Rochelle with the Ireland v Australia game falling outside of the international window.

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Ulster have signed Northampton Saints number eight Juarno Augustus on a three-year deal from next summer.

The 26-year-old South African helped Northampton win the Premiership title last season after joining the club from Western Province in 2021.

A former South Africa Under-20 international, Augustus was named 2017 World Rugby Junior Player of the Year after finishing that year's World Rugby Under-20 Championship as top try-scorer.

"I'm very excited to sign for such a historic club in Ulster Rugby. From my conversations, I believe in the project and can see the potential," said Augustus, who also previously played for the Stormers.

"It's exciting to be a part of that and I look forward to meeting my new coaches and team-mates in Belfast next summer. I have heard about the proud history of the province with South African players, so I will hopefully feel right at home."

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said acquiring Augustus was a "statement of where we want to get to".

"He's a top-class player," said Murphy.

"He's 26, he's in his prime, he's been a very effective ball-carrier in the Premiership over the last couple of seasons so we're delighted to get him here."

Ulster general manager Bryn Cunningham said: "He has shown with Northampton Saints that he is a huge physical presence in the back row, with fantastic ball-carrying and a destructive threat around the breakdown.

"The modern game is so much about having a point of difference, particularly in explosiveness, and Juarno certainly has this."

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Leinster have welcomed Ireland internationals Jack Conan, Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O'Brien back to full training ahead of Friday's United Rugby Championship game against Ulster in Belfast.

British and Irish Lions back row Conan has recovered from the hamstring injury he sustained against Munster on 12 October while wing Larmour is also available for selection having been out since September.

Full-back O'Brien, who has also been absent since September, has also returned to training.

Hookers Lee Barron and John McKee are also available for Leo Cullen's table-toppers, who have won all six URC games this season.

Ulster host Leinster at Kingspan Stadium on Friday at 19:35 GMT with the URC returning after a four-week international break.

Watch Ulster v Leinster on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website from 19:15 GMT.

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Australia boss Joe Schmidt says he does not expect to be "love-bombed" by Ireland fans ahead of his return to Dublin this weekend.

Schmidt led Ireland to three Six Nations titles during a six-year spell in charge but will lead the Wallabies into Saturday's Test against Andy Farrell's side.

"I know the Aviva pretty well and that will be nice to get back there, albeit in a different changing shed," the New Zealander said after his side's 27-13 loss to Scotland on Sunday.

"I'm really excited about getting back, I don’t know about being love-bombed.

"I coached against them a couple of times with the All Blacks and I think I was pretty unpopular there.

"I've swapped sides again and there'll be a degree of unpopularity."

Schmidt, who left Ireland after the 2019 World Cup, added: "The way my family and I were looked after in Dublin was fantastic, and right around Ireland. It's a special place for us.

"We still have a home there and a daughter, I'm looking forward to catching up with her.

"It will be a nice week to get back there but there's only one game in town and that's about the footy, and trying to help these guys prepare as best they can."