Joe Schmidt has set up a blockbuster master versus apprentice Lions series by becoming the new Australia boss.
The former Ireland head coach has succeeded Eddie Jones as the Wallabies' third boss in as many years.
The 58-year-old led Ireland to three Six Nations crowns, including the 2018 Grand Slam, securing the nation's first-ever win over his native New Zealand in 2016.
Andy Farrell was on hand in Schmidt's backroom staff for many of those triumphs, then succeeded the former schoolteacher after the 2019 World Cup.
Farrell has since taken Ireland to new heights, including a maiden Test series win in New Zealand in the summer of 2022.
The ex-England assistant will lead the Lions in Australia in 2025 – and will now go up directly against one of his closest coaching colleagues.
Schmidt retired from coaching when leaving Ireland in 2019, only to be temped back to stints with the Blues then a backroom role with the All Blacks.
“I’m probably a little bit surprised that I’m here, I thought I’d retired when I went back to New Zealand but I’m very poor at doing that," said Schmidt.
"I'm pretty excited, this is a unique challenge. I do think the World Cup was not an Australian team that I recognised."
