Door open to tour and World Cup

With just 14 Tests left to play before Ireland open their World Cup campaign against Canada at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on September 19, 2015, Joe Schmidt will take great care in selecting his squad for the forthcoming series against Argentina.

In choosing to wait until the completion of the RaboDirect Pro12 semi-finals next weekend, he is sending a clear message to a number of Munster, Leinster and Ulster players that the door is still open to all in their efforts to make the trip.

Ireland travel in good fettle with a rare Six Nations triumph under their belts as they attempt to win a series in the southern hemisphere for the first time since Australia in 1979.