Ross Byrne added to Ireland squad as fears grow over Johnny Sexton's availability for Australia game

Ross Byrne has been added to the Ireland squad for Saturday's clash with Australia as concerns grow over Johnny Sexton's availability.

While skipper Sexton was a doubt for the Wallabies clash, the fact that another out-half wasn't added to the squad when the IRFU released a lunchtime update on Monday suggested the 37-year-old was recovering well from a dead leg suffered against South Africa.

However the IRFU have now confirmed that Sexton's Leinster colleague Byrne joined the squad at their Carton House base on Monday night, which suggests Andy Farrell is making plans to cover the possibility that Sexton - nominated yesterday for the World Rugby Player of the Year award - misses out.

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If Sexton is unavailable it is a real blow to Ireland's hopes of finishing their Autumn series on a high.

He was integral to the victory over the Springboks, despite suffering the injury early in the second half, before sitting out what Farrell described as a "pretty underwhelming" win against Fiji last Saturday.

Byrne, 27, remains trusted by Leinster but hasn't played for Ireland since coming off the bench to win his 14th Test cap in the Six Nations defeat of England in 2021, having started in the loss to France in the same championship.

Now it is possible that either Byrne or Jack Crowley, who made his senior international debut off the bench last weekend, will start against the Wallabies.

Sexton's primary back-up Joey Carbery returned to Munster to complete his return to play protocols after failing to return from a HIA against Fiji last Saturday.

With Farrell constantly rotating that third out-half selection behind Sexton and Carbery, Ciarán Frawley was next in line for a debut in the no 10 role but he is out for three to four months after twisting his knee in Ireland A's loss to the All Blacks XV 11 days ago.

However Crowley stepped up and was impressive in a cameo role off the bench against the Pacific Islanders.

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