Nathan White shows good things come to those who wait

Having waited for so long to get a taste of Test rugby, Ireland’s oldest rookie has no intention of taking a back seat during his country’s World Cup campaign.

It took tighthead prop Nathan White until three weeks short of his 34th birthday to win his first cap against Scotland last month but after reaching the heights, the naturalised Irishman wants to push on and challenge Mike Ross for the starting spot at number three.

“Definitely,” he said. “Mike has been there for a long time, but my job is to push him and keep him honest. If something happens, then I want to be ready to take my chance if I get one.” White could get that chance to shine in a heavyweight scrummaging contest with Romania’s mostly France-based front row when the two countries meet at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.