Well, at least Ireland’s new management team has a very clear picture of the enormity of the task facing them in their new roles.

Ireland 15 Australia 32

Nigel Owens will referee Ireland’s Autumn international with New Zealand — 16 months after the chance to claim a first win over the All Blacks was lost on the back of his controversial decision in Christchurch.

Three key areas

The teams for Australia versus British and Irish Lions have been decided.

Simon Lewis says Yes

The British and Irish Lions have named Tommy Bowe, Dan Lydiate and Ben Youngs in their starting XV for Saturday's second Test against Australia at the Etihad Stadium.

Lock Paul O’Connell has been ruled out of the remainder of the British and Irish Lions’ Test series against Australia with a fractured arm.

Paul O’Connell was undoubtedly a significant contributor to the Lions victory in the first Test in Brisbane, but perhaps the more crucial factor was the Munster-like weather that afflicted the so-called Sunshine State the day before the match.

Australia 21 British & Irish Lions 23

Warren Gatland voiced his relief after Australia’s Kurtley Beale missed a penalty with the final kick of the game as the British and Irish Lions opened the Test series with victory in Brisbane.

Australia 21 Lions 23

At last the hype is over and the British and Irish Lions are back in business.

The English contingent on this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour of Australia will be reacquainted with referee Steve Walsh when he takes charge of the opening game of the trip against the Barbarians.

SCRUM

Stand-in Ireland forwards coach, Anthony Foley, says everyone involved with the team is sick and tired of having to put up with poor refereeing.

Saturday offered a glimpse of what Ireland’s rugby future might look like when Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara and David Wallace depart the international scene on a permanent basis.

There have been no emails this week to the respective coaches but Ireland coach Declan Kidney is confident his players can get on the same page as RBS 6 Nations debutant referee Chris Pollock at Aviva Stadium today.

Shannon 17 Garryown 29

Referees for this season’s RBS 6 Nations championship have been told to carry on their emphasis on the International Rugby Board’s five main areas of concern outlined before the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

WORLD CUP final referee Craig Joubert is among the officials taking charge of Ireland’s matches in the upcoming Six Nations while the IRB have kept faith with controversial Irish whistler Alain Rolland for the tournament.

LIMERICK referee George Clancy will take charge of the opening game of this year’s Rugby World Cup.

Argtentina U20s 9 Ireland U20s 16

MUNSTER-based referee George Clancy has been included in a list of several officials for 29 Test rugby games in the build up to the World Cup.

South Africa U-19 32 Ireland U-19 8

A leading campaign group has welcomed a decision to withdraw controversial GM crop trials which had been planned to take place only two miles from Europe’s biggest organic research centre.