Alan Quinlan: Rising stars can make it big in Japan

Alan Quinlan believes the eight uncapped players named in Ireland’s squad for next month’s tour to Japan should be targeting a place in Joe Schmidt’s first 15 by the time the Asian country hosts the World Cup in 2019.

It’s not like there isn’t precedent.

Of the 23 players who featured against France in the decisive pool game in 2015, four made their debuts only two years out from the tournament. Robbie Henshaw and Dave Kearney started that day. Jack McGrath and Ian Madigan appeared as replacements.