Australia have reunited Quade Cooper and Will Genia at half-back for tomorrow’s non-cap international against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Limerick is hosting Ireland’s first ever rugby World Club 7’s event, with a feast of rugby taking place in Thomond Park over the weekend.

Former Australia international David Nucifora has been announced as the Irish Rugby Football Union’s new performance director.

Former Wallaby hooker David Nucifora will finally be unveiled as the IRFU’s new Performance Director tomorrow at a press conference at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland hooker Rory Best praised the support he received from the Ireland and Ulster rugby family following his initial omission from last summer’s Lions tour as a “massive factor” behind his signing of a new IRFU contract.

Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau is fit to return and take a seat on the bench for Australia in their autumn international clash against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Robbie Deans has been sacked as Australia head coach following the Wallabies’ Test series defeat to the British and Irish Lions, according to reports in the Australian press.

Twelve years ago George Smith was gearing up for the Wallabies’ crunch third Test with Graham Henry’s Lions outfit in Sydney’s magnificent Olympic Stadium.

Will Genia is talking tough ahead of today’s crunch second Test with the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne.

On a difficult night in Brisbane for the Wallabies, Ben Mowen was one of the shining lights for Robbie Deans’ wounded troops during their ill-fated opening match against the Lions.

Ex-Wallaby second row John Langford travelled north to become one of Irish rugby’s most significant overseas signings during a three-season spell with Munster from 1999 to 2002. He doesn’t get to watch the game he loves too often these days but he's making an exception this summer.

Robbie Deans has been consistently labelled a conservative coach throughout his tenure as Wallabies supremo, but the former Canterbury Crusaders boss well and truly threw the cat amongst the pigeons with his selection for Saturday’s opening clash with the Lions in Brisbane.

Australia have picked James O'Connor at fly-half for Saturday's opening Test against the British and Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium with Kurtley Beale included on the bench.

Michael Hooper is gearing up for the biggest day of his fledgling career on Saturday.

SUDDENLY, Jake White’s prediction of doom for the British & Irish Lions should they lose Saturday’s first Test against Australia possesses extra foreboding.

He’s been Australia’s “Mr Fix It” for many seasons, but now Wallabies back Adam Ashley-Cooper is ready to face the might of the Lions from his preferred position.

WARREN GATLAND knew in advance of yesterday’s meeting with the ACT Brumbies that he was dicing with death with a back line he was forced to cobble together over the last few days.

Brumbies 14 British & Irish Lions 12

George North has less than 24 hours to prove his fitness for Saturday’s British & Irish Lions’ series opener against Australia, a decision which may determine Simon Zebo’s chances of making a dream Test debut for the tourists.

Laurie Fisher is right at home, literally, coaching rugby in Canberra.

Former Munster forwards coach Laurie Fisher believes the province’s current game plan under head coach Rob Penney could cause ongoing “angst” at his old club.

Shane Williams has been backed to do a job for the British and Irish Lions following his shock call-up today.

Munster and Ireland’s Simon Zebo was last night winging his way from Texas to Australia following his call-up by the British & Irish Lions as injury cover for international team-mate Tommy Bowe.

Now the decision has been made not to award Declan Kidney a contract extension up to the 2015 World Cup, the question on everyone’s lips now is who will replace him and what process will be applied in making the new appointment?

Controversial fly-half Quade Cooper returned to the Australia squad with coach Robbie Deans naming a large 49-man training group ahead of the Test series against the British and Irish Lions in June and July.

THERE is a famous picture hanging in the headquarters of the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.

Australia coach Robbie Deans insists he had no hesitation in rushing Pat McCabe straight back from injury for Saturday night’s Rugby Championship clash with Argentina at Skilled Park.

Having been part of the 2008 squad that lost 33-10 to England in what was Eddie O’Sullivan’s last game in charge, I know how deep the review of Saturday’s defeat will run.

His name is Ruaidhri Murphy.

Jake White has ruled himself out of the running to become the next England head coach.

Perpignan will provide an exit route for Munster inside centre Lifeimi Mafi following the Irish province’s signing yesterday of James Downey from Northampton Saints.

AUSTRALIA centre Rob Horne yesterday withdrew from the Wallabies team to face Wales at the Millennium Stadium today (2.30pm) due to a hamstring injury.

The British and Irish Lions will play Test matches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney when they tour Australia in 2013.

THE worst kept secret in Munster rugby is officially out; forwards coach Laurie Fisher is returning to his native Australia.

ULSTER star Ruan Pienaar has dismissed reports linking him to Super 15 outfit ACT Brumbies.

ROD KAFER and Doug Howlett are the only members of the elite north-south double winners club — but now Pedrie Wannenburg, Scott Hamilton, George Smith and Campbell Johnstone are in with the chance of adding their names to that shortest of short honours boards.

Munster Rugby have announced today that forwards coach Laurie Fisher will not continue with the province after the current season finishes.

ROCKY ELSOM has warned his Australia side that former Leinster teammate Shane Jennings could be Ireland’s secret weapon when the sides clash in Brisbane today.

New Zealand rugby referee Steve Walsh believes the modern professional game is now too “complex” for just one on-field official to handle.

Martin Johnson has called on the International Rugby Board to standardise refereeing the world over and end the north-south divide.

SCOTTISH lock Nathan Hines, currently in South Africa with the British and Irish Lions, is to quit French side Perpignan to join Heineken Cup champions Leinster.

SHANE HORGAN believes the three major southern hemisphere unions are doing themselves no favours insisting all of their international players play for indigenous club sides and not in Europe.

JAMIE HEASLIP last night hailed Rocky Elsom’s short-lived tenure in a Leinster jersey, as the Heineken Cup champions finally waved the white flag yesterday in their bid to retain the Wallaby’s services for another season.

ROCKY ELSOM believes late Lions call-up Gordon D’Arcy is an ideal candidate to be a marquee foreign player in the Super 14.