Robbie Deans: Ireland are real World Cup contenders

Barbarians head coach Robbie Deans will go head to head with compatriot Joe Schmidt at Thomond Park on Thursday night believing his invitational side are set to face genuine World Cup contenders.

It may be a non-Test match against an Irish XV whose squad will be missing its normal Munster contingent, including national captain Paul O’Connell, due to their Pro12 final against Glasgow Warriors on Saturday, as well as some fellow key first-team frontliners from the other provinces.

Yet, former All Blacks full-back and Australia head coach Deans is not expecting his all-star outfit to come up against a weakened Irish side, but a group of players eager to impress ahead of this autumn’s World Cup.