Joe Schmidt sends Irish squad home sweating after defeat by Wales

Ireland’s defeat to Wales may have thrown up more questions than answers but Joe Schmidt nevertheless had no choice but to make some decisions as he pushed the final pieces into position for his World Cup squad yesterday.

Thee may well be some wiggle room for the Ireland head coach, who will submit his 31-man squad to World Rugby by today’s 5pm deadline in the knowledge he can still make changes should some of the riskier choices prove unfit before departing for Cardiff on September 16.

After that, having arrived at the tournament ahead of their Pool D opener versus Canada three days later, any withdrawals must receive tournament clearance on medical grounds before a replacement can be drafted in.