Which of the Ireland World Cup squad are on bus cleaning duty?

In his column in tomorrow’s Irish Examiner, Ronan O’Gara provides an insight into life in camp during the early weeks of a Rugby World Cup.

"That bit of craic and excitement when the squad was announced has dissipated now. Now the players’ social committee starts its work.

"The two youngest fellas will have to clean the team bus. There’ll be four or five lads on music for the gym, for the team-room, the dressing room.

"Then there’ll be three or four for the clothing committee, and the same number charged with keeping the team room clean.

"Everywhere they go, there’ll be fellas having to give a synopsis for two minutes on the local history of, say, Burton-On-Trent, doling out interesting facts. If that doesn’t go down well, they’ll get booed or put off the bus and made to get a taxi back to the hotel."

"The big committee is the Social committee which looks after everything from cinema to nights out to best venues for parties. Non-rugby distractions are just as important as the rugby after already having spent over 70 days together in pre-season."

O’Gara believes Joe Schmidt’s ability to keep non-playing squad members happy will be key to Ireland’s success at the tournament.

"In any camp, where the group are together over a protracted period of time, it’s the disaffected who make things go pear-shaped.

"They are the ones who can stir poison into the mix. Joe Schmidt and his management will recognise that the longer they can keep everyone chomping at the bit, the better their tournaments prospects are.

He manages the non-starters really well."