Joe Schmidt touches down

Having watched the opening two games from a distance, Irish coach Joe Schmidt is due in Georgia today to run the rule over remaining candidates for Ireland’s World Cup campaign.

The final match was meant to be just that – a final – and a climax against their toughest opponents. But the failure of a second-string Georgia to even collect a losing bonus in their surprise defeat at the hands of Emerging Italy on Wednesday night means Ireland have already won the tournament before tomorrow’s kick-off.

“Joe has been fantastic. He was with us in camp in Dublin before we left, he led in terms of selection, engaging with the provincial coaches, including myself, so he is very closely connected with this [squad].

"As are Les Kiss, Simon Easterby and the whole of the management team,” said Emerging XV coach Allen Clarke.

Billy Holland takes over the captaincy from Ruddock and will be among those hoping at least for a place in this summer’s World Cup training after his involvement, albeit limited, with the Six Nations.

Jack Conan has previously been identified as a potential international by Schmidt after his inclusion in the extended squad for the Championship.

Props James Cronin, Denis Buckley and Stephen Archer will have a chance to prove themselves while scrum-half John Cooney and centre Noel Reid could keep their names in contention, should there be injuries further up the pecking order.

However Ireland must improve from their previous games when they failed to build on good starts against both Emerging Italy and Uruguay