Ireland Rugby

Sam Prendergast's strong end to the season with Leinster has earned him a recall to the Ireland starting line-up for today's game.

The 23-year-old lost the fly-half spot to Jack Crowley during the Six Nations, but with the Munster playmaker ruled out through injury, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has rewarded Prendergast for steering Leinster to the United Rugby Championship (URC) title.

With Tommy O'Brien sidelined and James Lowe leaving Irish rugby, Farrell has opted to pick Jamie Osborne on the left wing for the match at Allianz Stadium.

Tom O'Toole starts at loose-head prop, a problem position for Farrell with Andrew Porter, Jack Boyle and Paddy McCarthy all missing.

Stuart McCloskey, outstanding in Ireland's Triple Crown-winning Six Nations campaign, has recovered from a hamstring injury to start in midfield alongside Garry Ringrose.

But a late injury has ruled Robert Baloucoune out of the starting team with a tight hamstring, and Jimmy O'Brien comes into his place.

However, Tadhg Beirne is fit enough only for a place on the bench as Cian Prendergast gets another chance to impress in the back row.

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Jamie Osborne; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Tom O'Toole, Dan Sheehan (capt), Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Bundee Aki.

Australia boss Joe Schmidt - who will hand over the reins to Les Kiss later this summer - has picked Jock Campbell at full-back in his first Test appearance since 2022.

Wallabies record cap holder James Slipper is named as a replacement loose-head prop after reversing his retirement, while fly-half Carter Gordon and scrum-half Ryan Lonergan form a new half-back pairing.

Saturday will be the first time the sides have met in Australia since Schmidt led Ireland to a 2-1 Test series win in 2018.

Australia: Jock Campbell; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Carter Gordon, Ryan Lonergan; Angus Bell, Josh Nasser, Allan Alaalatoa, Jeremy Williams, Josh Canham, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt).

Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Tom Wright.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland coach Simon Easterby says he expects Australia to try and "impose themselves" in this one.

Joe Schmidt's Wallabies host Ireland in the first of three summer matches in the new competition, before Andy Farrell's side take on Japan and New Zealand.

Farrell led the British and Irish Lions' successful tour of Australia last year and Ireland ran out 46-19 winners when the sides met in Dublin in November.

Easterby, who said all 36 players were in training in Sydney, said it was "exciting" to face Australia, who will host the Rugby World Cup next year.

"We're expecting a side who have probably got a chance to go and lay down a bit of a marker leading into a World Cup year, playing at home for the first time in a while," Easterby said.

"They are a physical team who will look to try and impose themselves on the opposition.

"It's something that we're well aware of, their threats and attack and their ability to attack in a way that can create opportunities."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Australia endured a tumultuous 2025; a losing Lions series, a first win over South Africa at Ellis Park since 1963 and a dismal European tour.

The quest for consistency was not aided by the revolving door at fly-half. By the time the Wallabies rocked up to Dublin in November, James O'Connor had just cut short his Moroccan holiday to take the key playmaking role from Carter Gordon.

Tane Edmed also featured heavily for the Wallabies last year but he is not in the squad at the moment.

So Schmidt has turned back to Gordon, who will make his first international appearance on home soil since returning from a stint in rugby league.

The 25-year-old has a new half-back partner, too, in Ryan Lonergan. The scrum-half only has five caps in the Wallaby gold but is coming off an outstanding season in Super Rugby with the Brumbies.

And with Jock Campbell emerging from a near-four-year Test exile to start at full-back, this is an interesting Aussie backline.

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It's half-time in the second game of the Nations Championship and Japan are leading Italy by 17-10 in Tokyo.

Juan Ignacio Brex got an early try for the visitors, but Warner Dearns and Takuro Matsunaga have hit back for the hosts, with the latter also adding a penalty.

Paolo Garbisi's penalty with the last kick of the half has kept Italy in touch.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union commentator

There's some breaking news from the England camp ahead of their game with world champions South Africa later...

Full-back George Furbank has been ruled out of England’s match with South Africa this afternoon with appendicitis.

Furbank had been preparing for his first England game in nearly two years before falling ill on Friday evening.

England have yet to confirm who will replace him, with Marcus Smith most likely come in to the starting XV.

It is another desperately unlucky setback for Furbank, who has suffered arm, calf, knee and concussion injuries since his last England appearance in November 2024.

“It feels like a significant blow to England’s attacking prospects, as well as the leadership a Prem-winning captain brings to the backfield,” said former England fly-half Paul Grayson, who is commentating on the game in Johannesburg for BBC 5 live.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland will be aiming for three out of three in the southern hemisphere.

Will they get the job done?

In case you missed it earlier, here's a reminder about how the Nations Championship works.

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One game, one win.

The Dave Rennie era for the All Blacks starts with a thriller.

Let us know what you thought of that end-to-end opening match by using the 'Get Involved' icon at the top of the page.

Also, give us your thoughts ahead of Ireland's match against Australia and the news that Robert Baloucoune is out of the game.

New Zealand captain Ardie Savea on ITV Sport:

"It was tough. The French were quality tonight, when we had the ball in our hands, we were dangerous.

"There is a lot to work on in defence, so hopefully we can enjoy tonight and then come together to get better next week.

"A test match is always going to bring it's challenges. France came to play and put us under pressure. I am proud of the boys for what they put in."

Breaking news from Sydney.

Robert Baloucoune has been ruled out of Ireland's Nations Championship opener with Australia.

Jimmy O'Brien comes in on the right wing.

That's a big blow for Andy Farrell's side.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Will Jordan doing Will Jordan things.

He's now within two tries of Doug Howlett's New Zealand record of 49.

It seems like it is a case of when, rather than if this summer.

Player of the Match New Zealand's Cam Roigard on ITV Sport:

"Very pleased to get the win.

"It is a definition of a test match there; you have to play for the 80 minutes.

"France are very unpredictable and like to play what is in front of them and there was a lot of French flare, so credit to them.

"I am proud of the boys for hanging in there."