Ireland vs Wales: Five players looking to outperform their peers
Saturday 29 August 2015 15:08, UK
Ireland and Wales square off on Saturday in a World Cup warm-up, so which five players will be most eager to make an impression at the Aviva Stadium?
With the squad announcements around the corner, all the players will be hoping to hit their straps, but which five in particular have the most pressure on them to perform?
Dave Kearney
Dave Kearney arrived on the international scene with a two-try debut off the bench against Samoa at the end of 2013 before starting against New Zealand two weeks later.
He was part of the run-on team in all of Ireland's Six Nations matches in 2014, the last of which - against France in March - marked a lengthy period away from the international set-up for the Leinster winger due to injury.
Kearney returned against Scotland earlier this month and impressed from the bench. He has now been given a chance to start as he bids for a place in Joe Schmidt's squad in a position with plenty of competition.
"This is a great opportunity for me," said Kearney.
"Joe has been keeping everyone on their toes, and pre-season has been really tough. There has been a lot of gym work, speed work and fitness work - we've all been training really hard.
"This is kind of like a fresh start for me, and it is about trying to play well when you get the chance."
George North
North played the last of his 49 Tests in Wales' 61-20 win over Italy in the Six Nations, scoring a hat-trick as Warren Gatland's side came agonisingly close to a title win on points difference.
A week later he suffered a concussion while playing for Northampton against Wasps - his third in quick succession - that led to him taking a break from all forms of rugby for the remainder of the year.
The British and Irish Lion wing is now back, and will hope that he can make a quick return to the form that saw him capped at just 18 years old.
"He probably hasn't played as well as we would have liked over the past 12 months," said Gatland earlier in the week. "He is aware of that, but we've been working hard on his game.
"I think there is still a lot of improvement in him. I think he has the ability to get a lot better than he is at the moment."
With Wales' squad due to be announced on Monday, North has just 80 minutes to prove he has recovered sufficiently to warrant a place despite having no playing time under his belt for five months.
Luke Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald has stated on numerous occasions that his preferred position is centre, but in playing for club and country alongside Brian O'Driscoll, opportunities in the No 13 jersey have been limited for the 27-year-old.
As a result, the Leinsterman has appeared just five times in the midfield for Ireland, with his last start in the position coming against Argentina at Croke Park in 2008.
Jared Payne appears to have established himself as the successor to O'Driscoll, and Fitzgerald now finds himself in a straight shoot-out with Keith Earls to claim a back-up place in the midfield for Schmidt's World Cup campaign.
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Earls started against Wales at the Millennium Stadium and scored a try in the 35-21 win, while Payne was handed a start against Scotland.
Fitzgerald scored a try on the wing in that Scotland game, but will want to put in a solid shift in the midfield this weekend and hope that Schmidt gives him the nod ahead of Earls.
Alex Cuthbert
Capped by the British and Irish Lions in 2013, Cuthbert formed a formidable partnership with North as Wales' two giant wings.
Both started this year's Six Nations Championship against England but North made way for Liam Williams in Wales' second match against Scotland.
However, Cuthbert did not impress in those first two games, and when North returned to the team for the showdown with France in Paris, Williams kept his place while Cuthbert fell out of the match-day 23.
Cuthbert did not feature again in the Six Nations, but did start in Wales' 35-21 loss to Ireland in Cardiff earlier in the month, scoring one of his side's three tries.
The Cardiff Blues winger's return came about after he reportedly impressed the Welsh coaching staff at their summer camps.
"He didn't have his best season last term," said Gatland of Cuthbert, "but he's been training incredibly well and looks really sharp.
"Hopefully, we are going to see him back to his best form and he will give us a selection headache, particularly if we don't pick up too many injuries from now on."
Nathan White
White thought his chance to play international rugby had passed when a neck injury ruled him out of last year's November internationals as well as this year's Six Nations, but his first Ireland cap did eventually arrive this year.
Against Scotland earlier in the month the 33-year-old prop became the oldest person to make his debut for Ireland in the professional era when he came on as a substitute in the 52nd minute.
"When I injured my arm back in November, that was very disappointing, but then to get fit and injure my back... there were definitely a few demons," said White.
"I don't know how many coaches would show the kind of faith that Joe has shown in me.
"He's backed me and given me a crack, and it's just fantastic to have had that chance."
With just days before Schmidt announces his squad, and injury concerns surrounding Martin Moore, White will be grateful for the chance to start in this weekend's fixture to prove he can lay a platform for his team at the set-piece.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Dave Kearney, 13 Luke Fitzgerald, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Jack McGrath, 2 Richardt Strauss, 3 Nathan White, 4 Iain Henderson, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 6 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Jordi Murphy, 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Donnacha Ryan, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Felix Jones.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Paul James, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 James King, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Hallam Amos.
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