Preview: Ireland Aussie clash perfect for party time

One former ruler returns, another takes his leave, a genuine out-half battle that looks set to run for years, a Lions sub-plot, and there's the small matter of a 150th birthday party.

Ireland versus Australia in the final match of the Autumn Nations Series couldn’t be set up any better.

Andy Farrell says he wants to see "the best" performance of the window.

The result from the All Blacks clash was always going to colour the perception of the series, but before Farrell departs on his British and Irish Lions sabbatical, he has one more chance to head off on a high.

The team were uncharacteristically poor against New Zealand, somewhat fortunate against Los Pumas to hang on for a 22-19 win, and even in an eight-try victory over Fiji, had plenty to work on.

But Farrell, who made seven changes for that game, will be relatively pleased with how they dealt with the tough-tackling islanders.

Previous comparable games, against Fiji in 2022 and Samoa last year, when he also made multiple changes, didn’t work out.

In that sense, his squad has made progress.

While the 49-year-old insists it has been business as usual before his last game with Ireland until next November’s games, there’s no doubt he and the players will want to end on a high as well as lay down a marker for the Lions summer tour.

"It just so happens that we’re here on a big game with the last game, but after that what will be will be. We’ll turn that page when we get to it," he said.

The return of Joe Schmidt, a three-time Six Nations winner with Ireland between 2013 and 2019, adds to the mix.

Whatever about his final year in charge, Schmidt brought Irish rugby to a new level during his stint and he can bank on a warm welcome from the Aviva Stadium crowd.

"There'll be some