Jared Payne and Mike McCarthy have both been ruled out of Ireland's final November International against Australia.

Payne has been allowed to return to Ulster to recover from his foot injury after reporting some tenderness following a light workout yesterday.

McCarthy has also been sent back to Leinster in order to follow the return to play protocols for a concussion injury, which means that Munster's Dave Foley is now likely to start from the bench against the Wallabies this Saturday.

However, Rory Best has come through training this morning without any problem and the Ulster captain is now set to join Sean Cronin and Richardt Strauss in the battle for the starting hooker's role this weekend.