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Schmidt admits Saturday's Test against his former Ireland team will tug at his emotions even if he tries to keep them at bay.

Schmidt's return to Ireland where he enjoyed so much success with Leinster and Ireland, and indeed became a hugely popular figure nationwide, has generated a lot of affectionate commentary this week.

"It was a bit overwhelming especially at the airport here, and then the lads giving me a hard time," said Schmidt of his arrival in Dublin with his Wallabies squad.

Schmidt still has a house in Dublin and his daughter has remained in the Irish capital since his departure from the Ireland job after the 2019 World Cup.

"I feel comfortable here. Ten years is a long time."

"I try to be pretty transactional and pretty pragmatic on game day but there will be some emotion in it for me for sure."

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI

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Plenty of love for this man around Dublin and the Aviva Stadium today in his first coaching return to Ireland.

Joe Schmidt may have said this week he wasn't too sure about the reception that he'll get but he's bound to get a huge ovation.

Three Six Nations titles, one of them a Grand Slam, and historic wins over New Zealand and in South Africa will make sure of that.

He's had plenty of memorable days here, of course, but just how much would he love one more?

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Ulster coach Richie Murphy says he believes Ireland head coach Andy Farrell and his Australia counterpart Joe Schmidt "would like to get one up on each other" today.

Schmidt coached Ireland for six years from 2013, with Farrell occupying the role of his assistant for the final three years of the New Zealander's tenure before taking over the top job following the 2019 World Cup.

Murphy has worked closely with both in his previous roles as Ireland's skills and kicking coach, then Ireland Under-20s coach, and holds them in high regard.

"They’re two amazing coaches. Over the course of the last week I’ve been on the phone texting both of them," Murphy told BBC Sport NI.

"I think Joe Schmidt was the catalyst and the start of a lot of good things in Irish rugby and Andy has taken it on from there and done an extremely good job.

"He has brought his own personality onto it. In phase attack he’s really driven Ireland on."

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There is no doubting the major subplot surrounding this Test match as arguably Ireland's best ever coach returns to the Aviva Stadium.

Joe Schmidt won three Six Nations titles in six years, including one Grand Slam, as Ireland coach, as well as ending a 111-year wait for a win over the All Blacks and delivering a first ever victory on South African soil.

He would leave after the 2019 World Cup and was replaced as head coach by his then assistant Andy Farrell - who hasn't done a bad job since taking over.

While Schmidt was on the All Blacks staff that beat Ireland at the 2023 World Cup, this will be the first meeting between the pair as opposing head coaches.

They will get used to it, however, with this Farrell's last Test in charge of Ireland before he takes a sabbatical to lead the British and Irish Lions in Australia next summer.

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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 today 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."

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It's not a goodbye, it's a see you later.

This will be Andy Farrell's last game as Ireland head coach before he gets ready to lead the British and Irish Lions next summer.

It's not a bad one to sign off on.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says Sam Prendergast "deserves" another start at fly-half after selecting him ahead of Jack Crowley.

Crowley had established himself as Farrell's first choice following Johnny Sexton's retirement, but Prendergast has been retained for the Wallabies game after a full debut in last week's win over Fiji.

"I thought he played pretty well," Farrell said of the 21-year-old Leinster player.

"He has trained pretty well over this autumn series as well so there's another chance to lead the week and grow in that manner and obviously the opportunity to play in a big game along with a good side behind him.

"For the likes of himself and Gus McCarthy [who made his debut against Fiji] and a few others, you combine all that and it kicks them on from the future."

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Joe Schmidt paid tribute to another of his former Leinster and Ireland players in Healy as he looks set for a record-breaking afternoon.

"He is exceptional. A physical specimen. A bit like Andrew Porter is. Both those guys, you have to lock them out of the gym the best you can.

"[But] Cian is so agile and he was so dynamic when I first got to Leinster," added the Wallabies as he recalled Healy being convinced he could finish off a backs move in the 2012 Heineken Cup semi-final against Clermont-Auvergne in 2012.

"The pass from Richardt Strauss was going into Rob Kearney and there’s Cian on his shoulder trying to overtake him. He’s that sort of athlete.

"And he was lethal close to the line. The opposition couldn’t stop him and we couldn’t get the ball off him."

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Ireland captain Caelan Doris believes Cian Healy's caps record for the side is a "testament to how well" the 37-year-old has looked after himself throughout his career.

The loose-head prop drew level with Brian O'Driscoll on 133 Ireland appearances against Fiji this month and will set a new mark should he come off the bench later on.

Healy made his international debut, also against Australia, in November 2009 with Doris, 26, remembering him "exploding onto the scene" 15 years ago.

"He's a great fella, very popular among the squad," said the Ireland skipper of his Leinster team-mate.

"It's funny, I've obviously watched him from not quite my primary school days, but early secondary school days and remember him exploding onto the scene and changing what it was to be a prop.

"He was so dynamic, some of his carries back then. We were actually watching some of his highlights during the week from his debut, against Australia funnily enough in Croke Park, but some of his carries were so explosive, stepping, skillset and his longevity has been unbelievable. Like, 134 caps is just wild."

It's not only a big day for Andy Farrell and Joe Schmidt, but also for Cian Healy as he looks set to become the most-capped Ireland player of all time.

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Sam Prendergast has retained his place in the Ireland team for today's concluding autumn Test against Australia as he is preferred at fly-half to Jack Crowley.

After making his debut as a second-half replacement for Crowley in the narrow win over Argentina two weeks ago, Prendergast earned his first Ireland start in last weekend's 52-17 victory over Fiji.

The 21-year-old overcame an early yellow card against Fiji to produce a promising display that included five successful conversions and a cross-kick that set up a Mack Hansen try.

Leinster prop Cian Healy, who is named on the bench, is set to earn a record-breaking 134th cap after equalling Brian O'Driscoll's record in the Argentina game.

Healy, 37, made his Ireland debut in a 20-20 draw with Australia at Croke Park in 2009 - a game that marked O'Driscoll's 100th Test appearance.

Ireland show five changes from last weekend, with Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park taking over from Jamie Osborne, Jacob Stockdale and Craig Casey in the backs.

Ronan Kelleher and James Ryan's inclusions mean Gus McCarthy and Cormac Izuchukwu, both of whom made their debuts against Fiji, drop out of the starting pack.

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.

Image source, BBC Sport

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI

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As Australia arrived in Dublin this week for Saturday's Test match against Ireland, they did so with their 'Grand Slam' dreams already dashed for another tour.

After wins against Wales and England to open their month in the northern hemisphere, Joe Schmidt's side were beaten by Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday to end hopes of a clean sweep of the home unions this November.

Instead, the legendary Wallabies of 1984 continue to stand alone. For many, the Ulster side who beat them 15-13 at Ravenhill 40 years ago this month do too.

While momentum built slowly during the province's European Cup triumph of 1999, the wet and windy night in Belfast four decades ago is widely considered to be the greatest standalone result in the side's history.

Furthermore, two legends of the team, David Irwin and Nigel Carr, describe the game as the "turning point" that kickstarted a decade of dominance in Irish rugby.

Australia centre Joseph Suaalii has been passed fit 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.

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.

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, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Harry Potter.

Image source, BBC Sport

Spice bags and scarfs, a standard Saturday afternoon in Dublin.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

Australia have had a long old year and perhaps showed signs of fatigue at Murrayfield last week.

Regardless of today's result, the feeling is that under Joe Schmidt they have shown enough to suggest they can put it up to the Lions next summer.

Ireland, on the other hand, dread the thought of another defeat.

Bookending this autumn campaign with reverses in their two most significant matches to the All Blacks and Wallabies would ramp up the pressure on the squad just as Andy Farrell prepares to temporarily hand over the reins to Simon Easterby.

Walking in, there was something of a low-key feel around Lansdowne Road. Perhaps that will change.

I wonder who has the best playlist here?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

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Overall, these sides have met in 37 previous Tests with Australia winning 22, Ireland 14 and the pair sharing a draw at Croke Park in 2009.

Ireland have won the past three meetings, a run that included a series victory in Australia in 2018, and another triumph on Saturday would equal their longest ever winning run against the Wallabies.

They still have some way to go, however, to match Australia's 11-game winning run in this fixture between 1981 and 1999.

Fans attending today's game will be hoping for a better spectacle than when the sides last met in 2022.

In what was a disjointed game after Irish captain Johnny Sexton pulled out with an injury during the warm-up, Bundee Aki and Jordan Petaia traded scores before Ireland's replacement fly-half Ross Byrne kicked a late penalty for a 13-10 win.

BBC Sounds

You can listen to the game on Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds from 15:00 GMT.

Gareth Steenson and Jonny Bell are in studio with Gavin Andrews.

Former Ireland flanker Chris Henry is on commentary duty in Dublin alongside Jim Neilly.

We'll also have live updates right here, so you won't miss a thing.

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With Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell, management has been the word on the street, and now Paul O'Connell has had his name thrown into the mix.

However, the Ireland forwards coach has ruled himself out of taking over the vacant head coach position at Munster.

The former Munster captain won a pair of Heineken Cups and three league titles as a player with Munster, who have been without a head coach since Graham Rowntree left his role last month.

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.”

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI

Leinster won for the seventh time in seven games this season as they beat Ulster in Belfast to extend their lead at the top of the United Rugby Championship [URC].

The visitors fell behind four times at Kingspan Stadium as Ben Carson scored a try in each half for the northern province.

Leo Cullen's side came back on each occasion, however, and crossed the whitewash three times in the second half to secure the victory.

After Luke McGrath scored early, returning Irish internationals Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O'Brien swung the game in Leinster's favour before replacement back-row James Culhane bagged the bonus-point score with seven minutes remaining.

Leinster are now seven points ahead of nearest challengers nearest challengers Glasgow Warriors, who beat Scarlets at home.