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Player-by-player guide

PROPS

Marcus Horan

(Shannon/Munster)

Age: 29 Tests: 45

Wrapped in cotton wool since the Six Nations, Horan will actually be 30 by the World Cup, when he should also reach the half-century. An experienced test prop now, streetwise if not destructive at scrum time and wonderfully skilled and dynamic in the loose.

John Hayes

(Bruff/Munster)

Age: 33 Tests: 74

The Bull is arguably as important as any of the "untouchables" for his strength, experience and peerless lineout lifting, as well as being the bulwark of the Irish defence around the fringes. Even the scrums look a liability without him. History will show him in an even better light.

Bryan Young

(Ballymena/Ulster)

Age: 26 Tests: 8

Adequately replaced Horan in the win over Australia last November, only to look out of his depth against England A. Then came through Argentinian tests with credit only to struggle last Saturday and fall off a couple of tackles in a disappointing eve-of-tournament effort.

Simon Best

(Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Age: 29 Tests: 19

First capped over four years ago, captain of Ulster and even of Ireland, in Argentina, when like Young came through the tests seemingly with credit. But struggled again in the scrums last Saturday and lacks dynamism in the loose.

HOOKERS

Rory Best

(Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Age: 25 Tests: 13

One of last season's surprise successes, he's regarded as a good scrummager and the scrums do seem stronger when he's there. Darts have been accurate, and technically he's a very proficient tackler. Looks like he might hold on to the starting number-two jersey in the big ones.

Jerry Flannery

(Shannon/Munster)

Age: 28 Tests: 16

Though quicker and a more dynamic ball carrier than Best, he has been denied, by a combination of injury and fate, a run of meaningful games since bursting onto the scene two seasons ago. Not, of late, as good a tackler as Best and will need a big one to be more than an impact replacement in the crunch games.

Frankie Sheahan

(Cork Constitution/Munster)

Age: 30 Tests: 28

Given his career-threatening neck injury and the drugs case that also wrongly threatened his career, for Sheahan to reach the Coupe du Monde is arguably the most heartwarming story of any in the squad. Dependable, hard-working and resilient professional.

LOCKS

Paul O'Connell

(Young Munster/Munster)

Age: 27 Tests: 44

Huge onus on the big man. As he showed with his tour de force against England, O'Connell is the heartbeat of the Irish pack; where he goes, the rest often follow. Ireland need him to be dominant in the air, rumble in the loose, make big hits and come up with big plays. At his prime, not much to ask.

Donncha O'Callaghan

(Cork Constitution/Munster)

Age: 28 Tests: 35

More a workhorse and not as eye-catching as O'Connell, but selflessly sacrifices himself to the team effort by often leading the tackle count and/or hitting rucks, and every pack needs one of his kind. Like O'Connell should be well primed and in his prime come Coupe du Monde.

Malcolm O'Kelly

(St Mary's College/Leinster)

Age: 33 Tests: 86

The freakishly gifted legend is now easily Ireland's most capped player. Although he looked rusty on Saturday, the first test in Argentina was a reminder that he remains peerless in the air. Should have another couple of big tests left in him as well as providing something different from the bench.

Alan Quinlan

(Shannon/Munster)

Age: 33 Tests: 25

Unsurprisingly, the hero of Adelaide four years ago forced his way into a third World Cup almost as much by sheer force of will as by his performance in Buenos Aires. It's tough on the other locks, but Quinlan will add versatility and that Munster dog as well as being an ultra-positive squad presence.

BACKROWERS

Simon Easterby

(Llanelli)

Age: 32 Tests: 32

Another selfless, tireless worker who added to his perhaps overstated lineout skills with a more dynamic and influential championship last year - arguably his best in an Irish jersey. Intelligent, clever player, who's also an excellent defender and spoiler at breakdown, where he was missed on Saturday.

David Wallace

(Garryowen/Young Munster)

Age: 31 Tests: 37

The best ball-carrying forward in Irish rugby, he has convinced a sceptical O'Sullivan by augmenting his dynamism with greater effectiveness at the breakdown in recent years. A troublesome calf problem in pre-season is a worry, especially as he's the only real seven in the squad.

Denis Leamy

(Constitution/Young Munster)

Age: 26 Tests: 22

The one-time schoolboy firebrand has become another of the untouchables. A teak-tough, outstanding footballer, superb in contact, who can come up with big plays and tackles big, he can also get down and dirty with bear-like hands at the breakdown.

Neil Best

(Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Age: 28 Tests: 13

A little one-dimensional but he fearlessly revels in the collisions and, as he showed last autumn against the Boks and Wallabies, can mix it with the big guys, either carrying or, more likely, making big hits. Also an excellent counter-attacker and lineout option, like Quinlan he can overstep the line.

Stephen Ferris

(Dungannon/Ulster)

Age: 22 Tests: 4

An awesome physical specimen and undoubted talent, quick, big and strong, he's the prototype for a modern-day backrower. Versatility edged him ahead of specialists, though more a six or eight than a natural seven. Will bring plenty of ballast to the Irish mix, though it's unclear exactly how or in what role.

SCRUMHALVES

Peter Stringer

(Shannon/Munster)

Age: 27 Tests: 76

Super passer, ultra-competitive, director of pack, phenomenally consistent, and now part of the furniture - Ireland just don't seem the same without their second-most-capped player. In fact, they usually lose when he's not there. Hasn't played since March.

Eoin Reddan

(Wasps)

Age: 26 Tests: 3

A European champion with curiously little recognition or game time as yet in his native country, he's heralded at Wasps as a major decision-maker and playmaking pivot. Lacked protection in Buenos Aires but, with real pace and a crisp pass, could add something to the mix in France.

Isaac Boss

(Ballymena/Ulster)

Age: 27 Tests: 9

A good, competitive footballer who has the versatility to cover the wing quite adequately, he's the most physical of the Irish scrumhalves around the fringes and has a good box kick but his pass is the slowest.

OUTHALVES

Ronan O'Gara

(Cork Constitution/Munster)

Age: 30 Tests: 72

Superb goalkicker, tactical kicker and cool, precise decision-maker on the gain line, with excellent pass off both hands, O'Gara will always be targeted defensively but he's invariably a barometer of the well-being of both Munster and Ireland. Another of the key men among the untouchables.

Paddy Wallace

(Ballymena/Ulster)

Age: 27 Tests: 5

More of a running threat than O'Gara, but has not the same presence, tactical nous or experienced decision-making. In a position that arguably requires more time than any other, Wallace, like many others in his boat, has been afforded only fitful game time at outhalf for both province and country.

CENTRES

Gordon D'Arcy

(Lansdowne/Leinster)

Age: 27 Tests: 31

Has had more than his share of setbacks but keeps bouncing back, much as he does, literally, off the midfield leviathans. He's blessed with phenomenal footwork and strength in contact, and so much of Ireland's play revolves around him that he's now as vital as some bloke called Brian.

Brian O'Driscoll

(UCD/Leinster)

Age: 28 Tests: 75

The midfield maestros bring the X-factor to Ireland's A-game. All opponents know this, but containing them is another matter. The formula-one model of centres needs some more fine-tuning but a vintage tournament from the Great One and who knows where Ireland could go in France.

Andrew Trimble

(Ballymena/Ulster)

Age: 22 Tests: 15

A big, strong, physical, hard-running player who is adding more subtlety to his game, he cannot be evaluated too forensically on the evidence of last Saturday, when he was unexpectedly thrown in almost an hour from being 23rd man. Outstanding against the Boks last November, can cover wing and midfield.

Gavin Duffy

(Galwegians/Connacht)

Age: 25 Tests: 7

Resurrected himself from Harlequins fringe player to World Cup squaddie by dint of end-of-season return to Connacht. Footballing ability saw him cope with fullback and midfield roles in Argentina, but not much chance to shine there or on Saturday.

OUTSIDE BACKS

Denis Hickie

(St Mary's College/Leinster)

Age: 31 Tests: 58

Another with a CV that demonstrates his resilience, and still seemingly as quick as ever. He remains Ireland's best finisher (29 tries in 58 tests) as well as one of the team leaders and ought to have benefited from another lengthy pre-season.

Shane Horgan

(Lansdowne/Leinster)

Age: 29 Tests: 55

Another outstanding finisher, both for himself and in setting up teammates, Horgan provides leadership and a physical presence as well as an aerial presence such as nobody else can offer for defensive as well as offensive crosskicks and restarts. Fingers crossed that he's fit.

Geordan Murphy

(Leicester)

Age: 29 Tests: 49

A class act who underlined his mental strength by coming through Saturday's haunting test with flying colours. Creator-in-chief among the Leicester backs when hitting the line. The challenge for the coach now is to extract the best from another potential gamebreaker.

Girvan Dempsey

(Terenure College/Leinster)

Age: 31 Tests: 74

Ultra-dependable fullback whose professionalism and preparation in part account for an uncanny positional sense. Among the Leinster galacticos, he has honed his attacking game under David Knox in what have probably been his best back-to-back campaigns.

Brian Carney

(Clonakilty/Munster)

Age: 31 Tests: 3

Professional, unfazed campaigner with plenty of rugby league experience. Stationed very much on his wing in Argentinian tests, was noticeably used more up the middle against Scots, when too flat for one pass. Strong in contact, he will get game time in France, regardless of Horgan's health.