Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Inpho

It's been a busy week at the Aviva Stadium with four big events in eight days.

Last Saturday, Ireland hostsed Japan in their first home match of the autumn.

Then, the next day Shamrock Rovers completed a domestic double in local football by adding the FAI Cup to their League of Ireland Premier Division title.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The biggest story of the week came on Thursday when Cristiano Ronaldp's Portugal came to Dublin for a World Cup qualifier with the Republic of Irenad.

The hosts had the last laugh as Ronaldo was sensationally sent off, and Troy Parrott's double secured a famous win.

And then today the rugby posts are back up as the Wallabies get ready to take on Ireland. Props to the ground staff at the ground as the pitch looks great.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Aviva Stadium

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Ireland's rivalry with Australia may not command the same level of attention as the All Blacks or South Africa, but tussles between these two usually go down to the wire.

Ireland have won the past four encounters and six of the past seven, all by no more than a five-point margin. Last year, the Wallabies led a turgid match for long spells before Gus McCarthy's try rescued an Irish win.

Suffice to say, after a deflating loss to the All Blacks and last week's uninspiring win over Japan, Ireland need a more emphatic result tonight to breathe new life into Andy Farrell's reign.

Farrell has attempted to stir his squad with a few intriguing selection calls. Mack Hansen is given a run-out at full-back for the first time, with Sam Prendergast and Stuart McCloskey also recalled to the backline.

There is a first Test start for Paddy McCarthy, but the most interesting selection is in the back row, with Caelan Doris shifting to open-side flanker to accommodate Jack Conan's return at number eight.

With the Springboks in town next week, now's the time for Ireland to deliver a big performance.

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Nick Timoney says "a more measured approach" has improved his performances for Ulster and Ireland.

Timoney scored Ireland's second try in the 41-10 win over Japan in Dublin last week.

Despite a number of standout performances for Ulster, Timoney has only won five caps since making his debut in 2021 with Ireland's depth in the back row.

"I'm a bit more settled and a bit more mature," said Timoney when asked how he has changed since his first call-up into an Ireland squad.

"If you asked Andy [Farrell, Ireland's head coach] and he answered honestly, he would probably say I was a bit desperate for it all when I first came in.

"Not that I'm not as enthusiastic as ever but I have a more measured approach to it now.

"I hope I am a better and most consistent player because of that."

Speaking before he was named on the bench to face the Wallabies, the 30-year-old said it would be "amazing" if he could add further caps in November.

"I would love it so much but who knows?" he said.

"I've made a commitment not to be too hung up on selections and stuff, but I'm sure if I'm hopefully here next Saturday I would be incredibly excited and honoured to be involved.

"But we'll have to see how that goes."

For Australia, Schmidt has opted to give James O'Connor his first northern hemisphere Test appearance in four years as he starts at fly-half.

He'll partner Jake Gordan in the half-backs with Len Ikitau (centre) and Max Jorgensen (full-back) returning to the starting side with Ulster-bound Angus Bell joining Allan Alaalatoa in the front row.

Australia: M Jorgensen; F Daugunu; JA Suaalii, L Ikitau; H Potter; J O'Connor, J Gordon; A Bell, M Faessler, A Alaalatoa; J Williams, T Hooper; R Valetini, F McReight, H Wilson (capt)

Replacements: B Pollard, T Robertson, Z Nonggorr, N Frost, C Tizzano, R Lonergan, T Edmed, A Kellaway.

Ireland Rugby

Ireland have named Mack Hansen a full-back and recalled Sam Prendergast at fly-half for Saturday's match as Farrell makes nine changes from the side that beat Japan 41-10 last week.

Hansen, who was not expected to feature at all this month after picking up an injury on duty for Connacht, finds himself starting in the 15 jersey for the first time for Ireland with Hugo Keenan and Jamie Osbourne on the sidelines.

For 22-year-old Prendergast, it is a first start since Ireland's Six Nations defeat to France in March, having been been locked in a battle for the jersey with Jack Crowley over the last 12 months.

Stuart McCloskey returns from injury while Paddy McCarthy earns his first Test start following his debut against New Zealand and a try-scoring cameo against Japan.

James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan are the others recalled to the starting team.

Ireland: M Hansen, T O'Brien, R Henshaw, S McCloskey, J Lowe; S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; P McCarthy, D Sheehan, T Furlong ; J Ryan, T Beirne; R Baird, C Doris (capt), J Conan.

Replacements: R Kelleher, A Porter, T Clarkson, C Prendergast, N Timoney, C Casey, J Crowley, B Aki.

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Ireland gave head coach Andy Farrell a winning send-off before his secondment to the British and Irish Lions as they came from behind to beat Joe Schmidt's Australia in a gripping Test in Dublin.

In what was Schmidt's first match in Dublin since leaving the Ireland job in 2019, his Wallabies side seriously threatened to spoil the Irish Rugby Football Union's 150th anniversary celebrations.

A Max Jorgensen try and 14 points from the boot of Noah Lolesio put Australia 19-15 ahead but Gus McCarthy's 73rd-minute try rescued an Irish win to ensure the hosts end the Autumn Nations Series with three wins from four.

Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris also scored tries for Ireland, for whom Cian Healy became the most-capped player when he came off the bench to win his 134th cap and surpass former captain Brian O'Driscoll.

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The scene is set.

Is it just me or do stadiums always look better under the lights?

Australia have had a mixed year, to say the least.

The Lions tour was the height of the Wallabies' year, although they lost the series 2-1.

A early win over South Africa in the Rugby Championship was promising, but defeats by Argentina and twice by New Zealand saw them finish in a distant third place.

A narrow win over Japan provided some optimism, but they were convincingly beaten by England, and Italy then stunned the Wallabies on Saturday, which means Australia have lost five of their last six matches.

Ireland finished third in the Six Nations. Despite winning four of their five games, a 15-point defeat by France in Dublin proved costly as with only three bonus points picked up overall, they finished two points behind Les Bleus with England one ahead in second.

With 18 players involved in the Lions' tour to Australia, it was an opportunity for many of those on the fringes to show what they could do as Ireland travelled to Georgia and Portugal in the summer, winning both Tests.

Andy Farrell's side opened their autumn campaign with a loss to the All Blacks in Chicago, but they bounced back with a win over Japan in Dublin last Saturday.

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November has rattled by and Ireland will take to the pitch the third time this autumn as Australia come to Dublin.

The Wallabies have been blowing hot and cold, but you can never rule them out with Joe Schmidt at the helm.

You can listen on BBC Sounds and Radio Ulster from 20:00 GMT, and we'll have match updates and plenty of build-up here.

It should be a good one. Thanks for joining us.