Ireland face severe test to avoid World Cup 'Pool of Death'

So often the perfect opportunity to introduce promising players to the international stage, the autumn international series has taken on a different significance this year with the 2015 Rugby World Cup pool allocation draw taking place on December 3 and Ireland perilously close to falling out of the world’s top eight.

Declan Kidney’s charges currently sit one place behind Argentina on the IRB World Rankings in seventh with Wales occupying eighth spot. An Irish victory this afternoon would ensure a top eight ranking meaning Ireland would avoid having two other heavyweight nations in their Pool. A defeat effectively guarantees a Pool-of-death scenario for England 2015.