Connacht started and finished strongly to beat Benetton in a 38-30 bonus-point victory in a topsy-turvy BKT United Rugby Championship clash.
Even with uncertainty over hooker and left wing, Ireland's XV for their Six Nations opener is set to be distinctly blue-tinted.
The Irish province didn’t say what offer the attack coach has accepted, but it is believed he will link up with Ulster where Richie Murphy, his former Ireland U20s boss, is now in charge.
Versatile Leinster back Osborne and Ulster wing Stockdale sustained groin and hamstring issues respectively during Saturday’s 52-17 win over Fiji.
Replacement Matthew Devine’s last-minute intercept try topped off a comfortable 31-7 United Rugby Championship win for Connacht over Dragons.
Easterby, who will become the interim Ireland Test team coach when Farrell is on his sabbatical in charge of the 2025 British and Irish Lions, has named a 33-strong squad for the upcoming fixtures in Bloenfointein versus the Pumas, Western Force and the Cheetahs.