IRB Rugby World Cup
Justin Tipuric and Dave Kearney impress in Dublin - 3 up, 3 down for Ireland and Wales
Tristan Barclay
August 29, 2015

Forget the starter at the Millennium Stadium earlier this month, the clash between Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium was always going to be the main course in this feast of World Cup warm-ups. With Monday's deadline for World Cup squad announcements looming large, Dublin stood as the last-chance saloon for those hoping to break into their respective coaches' plans, and it will be Welsh faces smiling brightest after grinding out their revenge on Irish soil.

Here we run the rule over three men who have improved their chances of starring in the their respective World Cup campaigns, and three for whom the dream of playing in rugby's biggest competition has become a little more distant.

THREE UP

© ESPN

Dave Kearney, Ireland

With Simon Zebo rested from both international and provincial action, Dave Kearney had a golden opportunity to stake his claim to a World Cup berth on the Irish right wing, and he certainly made the most of it. Running like a man possessed in the first 30 seconds, he was only denied a run at the try line by the bounce of the ball, and he was busy both on the touchline and in midfield all afternoon. Solid under the high ball and showing a good understanding with his brother Rob at fullback, he could have just played his way in as one of Schmidt's back-three options.

Justin Tipuric, Wales

He was one of the few stand-out Wales performers during the defeat in Cardiff and once again Justin Tipuric caught the eye in the famous red jersey. Filling in for injured captain Sam Warburton, who was sidelined with a pinched nerve in his shoulder, Tipuric was lively both in the loose and in close combat. He showed his commitment early on with a face-first charge down of a Johnny Sexton clearance and received well when needed in the line-out. The Ospreys flanker was deserving of his first-half try, which he potentially shared with Gethin Jenkins after some old-fashioned perseverance on the Irish line. If Gatland opts against 'doing an Australia' and selecting two No.7s in his back-row, Tipuric will be some man to have on the bench.

Robbie Henshaw, Ireland

A softly-spoken man off the field, Robbie Henshaw is a giant presence on it and he went about his business with typical gusto at the Aviva. His name will rarely make the headlines, but his willingness to run those hard crash-ball lines gives Ireland a different option to the finesse of Sexton at first-receiver. He's only 22 but Henshaw showed his willingness for battle with one eye-watering smash into Wales' Justin Tipuric and he's nailed on for the No.12 jersey come the World Cup. The only real question is who will play outside him.

THREE DOWN

© ESPN

Alex Cuthbert, Wales

Of the Wales XV in Dublin, Alex Cuthbert was probably the one who most needed to nail down his World Cup spot after being usurped by Liam Williams in the Six Nations. And it wasn't so much that the 25-year-old had a bad game, it was that he was largely anonymous during it. When he needed to step up, there really wasn't much to see. Late in the first half he was left for dead by Keith Earls on his outside, with only the bounce of the ball preventing the Ireland wing running in a likely try. 

Tomas Francis, Wales

Exeter giant Tomas Francis provided one of the stand-out storylines in the build-up to this Test, with the tighthead claiming his first Wales cap after being shunned by the England set-up as a schoolboy. And it was a brutal baptism for the 23-year-old. Wales were much improved in the scrum after the abject performance in Cardiff, and Francis stood firm against Ireland's Jack McGrath, but he was blowing hard minutes after half-time. Switching the entire front-row is very much in vogue these days, but the 20-stone Francis still needs work on his fitness if he is to provide effective cover for the recuperating Samson Lee.

Paddy Jackson, Ireland

The fly-half had little time to make an impact as a second-half replacement for Sexton, but his charged-down attempt at a drop goal was a glaring error in an otherwise humdrum performance. Ireland will likely wear blue before Sexton is dropped as their No.10, but after Ian Madigan's impressive performance against Scotland a fortnight ago, Jackson will probably need Schmidt to pick three fly-halves to stand a chance of a World Cup bow.

© Tristan Barclay

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