13 to watch in the year to the Rugby World Cup

By Padraic Ryan

On 18 September 2015 the Rugby World Cup kicks off and, as reigning Six Nations champions, with a world-class coaching ticket, Ireland are as well placed as they've ever been to succeed.

But look a little deeper and questions remain: who will step up to replace the retired Brian O'Driscoll? Should catastrophe happen, and Jonathan Sexton is ruled out for any reason, have Ireland a world-class replacement outhalf? And who are the bolters that will force their way into Schmidt's thinking this season?

Joe Schmidt has eight Tests in which to try out combinations before Ireland's warm-up fixtures next August; three in November and five in next year's Six Nations championship.

Here are 13 players to watch over the coming season. Some will seek to fill the void left by O'Driscoll. Others may make their mark elsewhere in the Irish team.

Get in touch via #rterugby or @rterugby and in the comments with who you think could fill the gap at 13, and who might make a charge this season for inclusion elsewhere in the squad.

Jared Payne (Ulster)

Irish-qualified as of this autumn, Payne's has the ability to play fullback, which Maurice Field, in this week's RTÉ Rugby Podcast, suggested was Payne's best position. Centre would be a welcome benefit for Ireland, and certainly puts him in the frame to replace O'Driscoll.

Payne has made quite an impression since joining Ulster from the Auckland Blues – not least for his controversial red card against Saracens in last season's Heineken Cup quarter-final – and the New Zealander runs great lines, making him a serious attacking threat.

Joe Schmidt will surely give him a chance to make his case during the November internationals: can Payne take it?

Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster)

Fitzgerald's quality is not in doubt, but he's one to watch to see how his body holds up this season.

Injury after injury blighted Fitzgerald last term, but Leinster coach Matt O'Connor is confident he is now back on track; Leinster say Fitzgerald is continuing to make good progress on his rehab. Could he be Ireland's solution at 13? He'll want a run of games to show what he's capable of.

Robbie Henshaw (Connacht)

The anointed one, Henshaw missed the chance to stake his claim to replace O'Driscoll when injury forced his withdrawal from the summer tour to Argentina.

Henshaw's decision to sign a two-year deal last season to stay at Connacht was a brave one, and he'll be hoping to continue his rise. The Athlone man's talent is something of an open secret by now, and with Connacht seemingly on the up this season, expect him to thrive.

Stuart Olding (Ulster)

Is this the season Olding makes his move? He will have impressed temporary Ulster director of rugby – and Ireland assistant coach – Les Kiss with his showing against the Scarlets when Olding's footwork and mazy runs were a joy to watch. There is serious talent there, but he has a battle on his hand for the 12 shirt at Ulster, where Luke Marshall will also be keen to make his case.

Olding is a lighter, zippier player than Marshall; both of their futures at province and country could depend on the kind of midfield patterns and combinations their coaches are looking to employ.

Luke Marshall (Ulster)

Ulster's explosive centre has undoubted ability, his aggressive style making him a serious handful for opposition to deal with. But his history of repeated concussions is a serious concern.

If he can stay on the pitch he'll be in the mix, but any further knocks to his head would bode ill for Marshall.

Niall Morris (Leicester)

Any player featuring regularly for Leicester Tigers is worthy of mention; add to that a Premiership medal – Morris scored in the 2013 final – and his recovery from an injury that curtailed last season, and he will surely be on the radar of Joe Schmidt. Whether the fullback/wing can do enough from England to force his way into contention remains to be seen.

Noel Reid (Leinster)

Reid had an unfortunate start to this season, hobbling off after just 50 seconds in Leinster's Pro12 opener against Glasgow.

Leinster have since said that the injury was not as bad as initially feared, and the Clontarf centre/outhalf will be looking to show what he can do as soon as possible and add to the cap he won on Ireland's summer tour to Australia.

As well as featuring strongly in Leinster's retention of the British and Irish Cup last season, Reid helped himself to seven tries from 15 Pro 12 appearances (two as a substitute), an impressive return. If he can replicate that this season, he may well put his hand up for further international recognition.

Ian Madigan (Leinster)

Madigan is by now a well-established international, so why is he one to watch?

Questions remain: can he nail down his position at Leinster? Could he be a 12? Madigan has showed already this season that he can be an incisive runner at first centre, scoring two tries in last weekend's demolition of the Scarlets, and kicking well, too.

O'Driscoll said recently that he expects to see a lot of Madigan at inside-centre. O'Gara and Sexton as a 10-12 axis was tried at the 2011 World Cup: could we see Sexton and Madigan employed in a similar approach next year?

JJ Hanrahan (Munster)

Could the man from Currow realise the potential that has long been recognised in Munster? A costly error in an early Heineken Cup game last season would have rocked many a more experienced player; Hanrahan put his head down and was quickly putting in impressive showings for Munster over the rest of the season. Hanrahan can also play at 12, a versatility which, as with Madigan, may help his cause.

Paddy Jackson (Ulster)

The Ulster man benefits greatly from the services of one of the game's finest scrumhalves, Ruan Pienaar. With Pienaar likely to be out for some time with ligament damage, and Jackson himself only now returning from a back problem that plagued him at the end of last season, Ulster look likely to have a challenging time ahead: how this affects Jackson's chances is something that will be of interest to Ireland and Ulster fans.

Jackson is likely to have more kicking responsibility in Pienaar's absence: can he reassure those who still have questions about this element of his game?

Luke McGrath (Leinster)

McGrath is a serious prospect and played an important part of Leinster's retention of the British & Irish Cup last season. Although he will be vying with Boss and Reddan for the Leinster number nine jersey, it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that this is the season McGrath announces himself as an international contender.

Robin Copeland (Munster)

Might Copeland need his passport, and will he be able to keep hold of it if he does? After a remarkable season with the Cardiff Blues, Copeland has come to Munster, and - with James Coghlan departing the scene – has a chance to nail down the number eight berth. Whether he can do enough to challenge Jamie Heaslip – or Robbie Diack or Sean O'Brien, for that matter – in a Munster team that has gotten off to a to difficult start to the season may well decide where he is this time next year.

Rob Herring (Ulster)

The Ulster hooker made an unusual Ireland debut, at blindside flanker, during Ireland's summer tour to Argentina, a late replacement for Rhys Ruddock. He'll be hoping that this season he gets a chance in the front row, but he'll have to battle with his provincial team-mate and rival Rory Best for the jersey.

Herring's impressive performances last season meant the trip to Argentina was well merited – former Ireland under-20s captain Niall Annett's move from Ulster to Worcester was surely motivated in part by the evidence that Best and Herring were likely to limit his chances of game-time – and the South African-born hooker looks set to continue his rise in the year to come.

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