Performance key as Ireland's World Cup jigsaw takes shape

This contest is about more than furthering individual causes and the management will want to see a step up in cohesion from the collective than was on display against Italy

READY FOR ACTION: Ireland's James Lowe during the Captain's Run at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Day by day, piece by piece, the Ireland World Cup squad jigsaw is taking shape and significantly so in the last few days.

The jettisoning of five unfortunates from the training squad by Andy Farrell, announced on Wednesday evening, was a decisive ramping up of the intensity surrounding the ongoing selection process that will conclude with the unveiling of a 33-man squad for France 2023 a week on Monday.