Battling Boss bidding to stake claim for World Cup berth

THE battle to be Peter Stringer’s deputy at September’s World Cup in France is set to intensify during Ireland’s two test tour of Argentina, which kicks off at Santa Fe on Saturday.

The emergence of Wasps’ Eoin Reddan as a challenger to the current hierarchy — which currently sees Isaac Boss as Eddie O’Sullivan’s second choice scrum half — should bring out the best in both players.

Boss is afforded the first opportunity to impress when he teams up with sometime Ulster half back partner, Paddy Wallace, on Saturday while Reddan will be picked for the second test in Buenos Aires on June 2.