By Matt Findlay

Despite looking dominant in winning the Six Nations earlier in the year, Ireland sits in a precarious position leading into the 2015 Rugby World Cup (RWC).

Basically, the Irish are expected to progress from pool D, but after some interesting selections from head coach Joe Schmidt and back-to-back warm-up losses to Wales and England Ireland have no momentum – although a reluctance to show their cards too early was evident in said losses.

Beneficially, Ireland will have two games to hit their straps in the RWC, taking on Canada and Romania to open their account, before tougher games against Italy and France.

“I don’t think there’s too much panic from us. There’s always a nervousness, there’s always an anxiety, but over the last two years we’ve done enough to demonstrate we can hang in there and get results,” Schmidt said following the loss to England.

Evergreen gun Paul O’Connell will lead the Irish with Donnacha Ryan also making the cut after recovering from a foot problem in an experienced squad averaging 34 caps per player.

In one of the most controversial moves from Schmidt, Conor Murray and Eoin Reddan are the only specialist halfbacks in the squad – although that is somewhat of a trend among the competing nations – with five-eighth Ian Madigan looking likely to cover the position if needed.

Questions over the move came to light when Murray went off with concussion against England, leaving Ireland thin through the halves.

In a notable omission, 2014 Ireland Players’ Player of the Year Andrew Trimble missed the cut, although he was made a casualty after missing the entire Six Nations victory –  Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Dave Kearney and Tommy Bowe were named as Ireland’s four wingers.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Tadhg Furlong (prop)

At just 22, the fast-developing Leinster prop was thought to be reasonably long-odds to earn selection, but impressed enough to oust Michael Bent, despite still being a relative rookie on the loosehead side of the scrum.

With only a couple of Test Match caps under his belt, and Cian Healy still recovering from injury, Furlong’s selection is a gamble, one of many Schmidt made in his selections.

However, with youth on his side strong performances in Ireland’s warm-up games, a baptism of fire could be the perfect springboard for a strong RWC for Furlong.

SQUAD

Forwards: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Jack McGrath, Jordi Murphy, Sean O’Brien, Paul O’Connell (captain), Peter O’Mahony, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner, Nathan White.
Backs: Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Robbie Henshaw, Paddy Jackson, David Kearney, Rob Kearney, Ian Madigan, Conor Murray, Jared Payne, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Simon Zebo.

FIXTURES

Saturday, September 19: vs Canada; Millennium Stadium, Cardiff; 2.30pm

Sunday, September 27: vs Romania; Wembley Stadium, London; 4.45pm

Sunday, October 4: vs Italy; The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London; 4.45pm

Sunday, October 11: vs France; Millennium Stadium, Cardiff; 4.45pm