Beirne facing big battle to nail down starting spot

Finally, the pieces are falling into place for Ireland, just as their Guinness Six Nations campaign draws to a close. Yet while Grand Slam-winning flanker Dan Leavy is back in contention for Saturday’s final-round trip to undefeated Wales, question marks still remain over Tadhg Beirne’s ability to fit into the jigsaw. In an ideal world, this weekend’s visit to the Principality Stadium would be tailor-made for Munster forward Beirne, given the success he enjoyed as a freewheeling lock or blindside flanker during two seasons with Scarlets.

Another year in West Wales and the former Leinster academy player would have qualified through residency to play against the land of his birth but the lure of a green jersey tempted the Kildare man home last summer and he was capped by Joe Schmidt in Australia before he began his pre-season induction with Munster.