Nathan White starts today for Ireland’s second pool game of the Rugby World Cup and is aware of the importance of managing the scrum.

Mike Ross has had a stranglehold on the number three shirt - starting the first 20 games of Joe Schmidt’s Ireland reign.

“You don’t go out there in international rugby aiming to come second,” White said of Canada.

Nathan White has admitted he feared he would never realise his dream for Test match rugby during two injury-ridden spells.