O’Leary: Nine shirt up for grabs

TOMÁS O’LEARY was Ireland’s first-choice scrum-half when he succumbed to injury during the Six Nations. Now he finds himself one of five number nines trying to catch Declan Kidney’s eye before the World Cup in New Zealand.

Four years ago, the national team suffered for the want of genuine competition for places but the task facing O’Leary in reclaiming his spot at the top of the queue is compelling evidence that Ireland’s strength in depth stretches much deeper this time.

Other areas such as the back row and back three are equally competitive while the great Jonathan Sexton/Ronan O’Gara debate is likely to demand the sacrifice of thousands of trees between now and the first game in Pool C.