VIDEO: Joe Schmidt’s charges ready to kick on

What better way for Joe Schmidt to reach his World Cup squad conclusions than a full-blooded bout of hand- to-hand rugby combat with the Welsh?

Wales head coach Warren Gatland brings perhaps his strongest-available XV to Aviva Stadium this afternoon (2.30pm) with incentives aplenty to spoil Paul O’Connell’s home Test farewell, thus providing fellow Kiwi Schmidt with the toughest examination of his players so far this pre-season.

The story so far in this countdown to Monday’s deadline to submit a 31-man squad to World Rugby has been a mixed bag for the Ireland management. A blistering first 50 minutes against a woefully undercooked Wales side in Cardiff three weeks ago was followed a week later by a performance at home to Scotland which despite ending in victory was yesterday described by captain O’Connell as “a step back”.