Skill and subtlety is key for Jared Payne

Jared Payne is confident that what Ireland may lack in size at this World Cup they can more than compensate for with skill and subtlety in attack.

Joe Schmidt’s side kick off their Pool D campaign in Cardiff on Saturday against tier-two Canada, who despite their lower world ranking and mix of professional and amateur players will still be able to pack a punch in terms of physicality, not least in direct opposition to Payne and his midfield cohorts.

“There’s some big ball carriers there,” the 6ft 2ins and 15st Payne said of the Canadians. “Sean Reidy, a friend up in New Zealand, said he played with a few of them back there, they were travelling around, and he said they’re big, direct boys who push a lot of tin. When you look through their team, they’re big boys, they’re the opposite to me, probably, they love the gym and love smashing around, so it’s going to be a good test for me physically.