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.

“Hopefully going forward, if we’re going to take the Lions seriously, we need to make sure there is enough preparation to make a fist of it”.

Code-hopper Israel Folau is one of three new caps in Australia’s preliminary 25-man squad to face the British and Irish Lions, with in-form Reds playmaker Quade Cooper the most notable omission.

England 14 Australia 20

Referee Alain Rolland was wrong not to allow Australia to make a late substitution and finish their match against South Africa with 15 men, the International Rugby Board (IRB) said hours after backing the officials’ original decision.

Australia full-back Kurtley Beale will get the chance to make up for his poor performance in Sydney last weekend after being named on the bench for tomorrow’s clash with New Zealand at Eden Park.

Wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner have been included in Australia’s training squad as they prepare for the Rugby Championship.

Australia 21 Wales 18

Wales 3 Australia 7

AUSTRALIA have played down concerns about their scrum wobbles after their forwards were trounced in the 15-6 defeat to Ireland on Saturday.

Australia hooker Stephen Moore has been confirmed as another late withdrawal from the squad ahead of the clash with Ireland this morning.

Criticism of his tactics, selections, birthplace or any other facet of his behaviour has been wool off a sheep’s back to Australia’s New Zealand-born coach Robbie Deans.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has retained the line-up that beat New Zealand last time out for next Sunday’s World Cup Pool C game against Italy in Auckland.

Departing Blues utility back Luke McAlister is hoping for a fitting final appearance at Eden Park on Friday when takes to the field in the Super Rugby play-offs against the Waratahs.

JIM WILLIAMS has warned Munster to resist the temptation of making wholesale changes to the backroom and playing staff this year.

AUSTRALIA’S comprehensive defeat by England at Twickenham on Saturday has added spice to tomorrow night’s clash of the Wallabies and Munster at Thomond Park.

Australia have suffered yet another injury blow ahead of Saturday's one-off Test against Ireland in Brisbane after veteran lock Nathan Sharpe was ruled out with a back complaint.

Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes will make their first starts for England after manager Martin Johnson made two changes for Saturday’s second Test against Australia.

Australia centre Matt Giteau has been ruled out of tomorrow's Cook Cup clash with England after failing to overcome a hip injury.

Wales 12 Australia 33

Australia coach Robbie Deans has made four changes to Australia’s starting side to play Saturday’s historic Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Japan

Australia 21 South Africa 6

Australia 34 Italy 12

Teenager James O’Connor is set to become the second-youngest player ever to pull on an Australia jersey after being named in the squad to tour Europe later this year.

South Africa lock Victor Matfield has dismissed suggestions Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash with Australia is a dead rubber, despite the Springboks having nothing left to play for.

Robbie Deans has named seven uncapped players in his first Australia squad for the Test against Ireland on June 14.

The Wallabies will have joint captains during their upcoming nine-match Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series with Phil Waugh and Stirling Mortlock to share leadership duties.

Australia coach John Connolly has defended his decision to send home four players from a Wallabies training camp earlier this week for failing fitness tests.

Stirling Mortlock has been named as Australian rugby’s new captain for Australia’s seven-match tour of Europe in November.

WALLABIES coach John Connolly have named a 37-man squad for next month’s four-test tour of Italy, Britain and Ireland.

FIVE newcomers are included in the 31-man Australian squad for next month’s four-nation European tour, during which the Wallabies will face Ireland.

Australia will be without experienced hooker Jeremy Paul for their tour of Europe.