Earls and Ryan get chance to boost World Cup claims

Keith Earls in training for Ireland ahead of his comeback game.

Schmidt must submit his final 31-man World Cup squad on August 31, leaving three matches for players to force their way into the reckoning.

After this weekend’s Cardiff clash, Ireland take on Scotland, Wales in a return clash in Dublin and finally England to complete their World Cup warm-up fixtures.

Ireland have been drawn alongside France, Italy, Canada and Romania in Pool D at the World Cup and open their campaign against the Canadians in Cardiff on September 19.

Ulster centre Darren Cave has a real chance to impress at 12 in his first appearance since the November walkover against Georgia but veteran centre Gordon D’Arcy is not involved at all despite being fit for action.

However, the Ulster wing, 30, missed almost all of last season after sustaining a toe injury in October.

He suffered that injury in a European Champions Cup game against Toulon in January shortly after returning from six weeks out because of a shoulder problem.

Schmidt has given Ulster’s Paddy Jackson the nod at fly-half over Leinster’s Ian Madigan, with the two facing a potential shoot-out over the last World Cup playmaking berth.

Donnacha Ryan wins the ball in a line-out for Ireland against Wales in 2013.

The front-row of Jack McGrath, Richardt Strauss and Mike Ross can all be confident of travelling, but replacements Dave Kilcoyne and Michael Bent would appear to be in direct confrontation as they vie to earn a place as one of five props in the squad with Bent’s ability to cover both sides giving him the advantage.

The backline is fully changed from the Edinburgh triumph in the spring and it includes last year’s Player of the Year Andrew Trimble, who himself is returning from long-term injury, while Felix Jones is name at full-back.

Ireland: 15-Felix Jones, 14-Andrew Trimble, 13-Keith Earls, 12-Darren Cave, 11-Fergus McFadden, 10-Paddy Jackson, 9-Eoin Reddan, 8-Jamie Heaslip (captain), 7-Tommy O’Donnell, 6-Jordi Murphy, 5-Donnacha Ryan, 4-Iain Henderson, 3-Mike Ross, 2-Richardt Strauss, 1-Jack McGrath.

Highlighting Ireland’s strength in depth, the bench features Ulster captain and hooker Rory Best, Ulster flanker Chris Henry, Munster winger Simon Zebo and Ireland out-half/centre Ian Madigan.