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Dazzling Earls, making his first appearance for Ireland in 29 months, boosted his chances of being included in Schmidt’s 31-man final World Cup squad with a classy display in Cardiff.

Donnacha Ryan and Keith Earls will both end 29 months without Test rugby when they start Ireland’s World Cup warm-up clash against Wales in Cardiff.

Both sides will also face Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta in Group F.

The winners of the nine European groups qualify automatically for the World Cup with the eight best runners-up facing off in two-legged playoffs for the remaining four spots.

England have not failed to qualify for a World Cup since 1994, though they did miss out on the European Championships in 2008.

Top seeds Wales have been one of the form teams in Euro 2016 qualifying but they have not qualified for a World Cup since 1958.

Paul Stirling played the key role as Ireland got their World Twenty20 qualifying campaign back on track with a seven-wicket win over Jersey in Dublin.

“Last year, he split my head open at an event and prior to that he punched me as well”.