Opportunity knocks for World Cup wannabes

AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL:

With squad places up for grabs ahead of September’s World Cup in England, there will be no lack of incentive within an essentially second string Ireland side captained by Eoin Reddan showing 13 changes from the line-up which started last Saturday’s famous 29-15 victory over South Africa. With a showpiece fixture against Australia next weekend leading into a Six Nations title defence, this is the best opportunity many will get to make an impression ahead of next summer’s tournament warm-ups. Yet, in potentially wet-weather conditions against a big, physical, forward-orientated Georgian side, Schmidt has seen enough of the visitors in their tight game with an Emerging Ireland side in June 2013 to know the tier-two nation has what it takes to unsettle an inexperienced side.

It took two late Ian Keatley penalties to defeat Georgia 20-15 in that IRB Tbilisi Cup game two summers ago and the Ireland head coach, who has handed Test debuts tomorrow to two forwards from that game, Munster lock Dave Foley and Leinster back-row Dominic Ryan, has urged his players to be on their guard.