RUGBY:With Declan Kidney naming his squad on Monday, GERRY THORNLEYgives his view on who should be on the plane for New Zealand

IN MANY respects, D-Day can’t come soon enough. First and foremost, by the time Declan Kidney finalises his 30-man squad for the World Cup on Monday, the waiting game for several of the players will at least be over, one way or the other.

As Kidney put it, players have dreams and as the man who’ll be ending or fulfilling them, it will surely be the least enjoyable time of his reign. That will be little consolation to those who miss out, mind, for whom there will be no escape quick enough from the team hotel.

This will be the seventh World Cup, and increasingly the four-year cycles mark the end of playing careers, either international or altogether. On this occasion, the cycle is liable to mark the end of test careers even before the tournament starts, with several outstanding servants liable to miss out.

Revealingly, Leo Cullen confirmed after Thursday night’s game against Connacht that “Deccie has already being doing the rounds”, which suggests many know their fate even before today’s game. Indeed, it would be surprising if the vast majority of the 30 names are not already pencilled in.

There is no accepted wisdom regarding the make-up of a World Cup squad, which will be either a 16-14 or 17-13 split. In 1999, Warren Gatland opted for five props in a 17-13 split (and actually played them all over the four games), while in 2003 Eddie O’Sullivan only had four props, but still opted for a 17-13 split incorporating four locks and six out-and-out back-rowers (though there was still no place for David Wallace).

Geordan Murphy having broken his leg the day before, O’Sullivan went with just one specialist fullback in Girvan Dempsey. Four years later both travelled in a 16-14 split, which also featured Gavin Duffy (ostensibly to cover centre).

On both occasions though, O’Sullivan took only four props, sacrificing a fourth lock for an extra back four years ago. The current management may also note that only three props started in 2003, and only two in 2007.

Robbie Deans only included four Australian props (in a 17-13 split) on Thursday, and with only one prop on the bench in a match-day 22, to pick five props, along with three specialist hookers and three specialist scrum-halves, would effectively leave Kidney and co to pick from only 26 players in each game.

Ever since taking Dan Tuohy to NZ and Australia a year ago, it’s clear that the management also have one eye on a quasi back-rower cum lock, which also hints at a 16-14 split. But whatever the split, there remain three or four very tight calls, at prop, scrum-half and notably in the outside backs.

Hookers (3):Jerry Flannery (touch wood) having thus far proved his well-being, he could even supplant Rory Best as first-choice, with Seán Cronin completing a strong trio.

Props (4):Cian Healy and Mike Ross are essential, and while the jury is still out on Tom Court's ability to cover both sides, he's the best candidate for the bench. Neither Tony Buckley (given two games and 30 minutes) nor John Hayes (one and 20 minutes) offered compelling cases for their inclusion whereas Marcus Horan has in two cameos off the bench. Go figure. The management clearly wanted to take Buckley, in whom they have invested so much time and faith, but he has had scrum difficulties in all three of his appearances to date and hasn't carried anything like the venom he is capable of. Horan, a wily operator, may be the better bet.

Never mind a wing and a prayer, more a case of two props and a prayer.

Locks (3+1 lock/backrow):Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan and Leo Cullen (likely to captain against Russia) are cast in stone, and, if only those three specialists are taken, Donncha Ryan looks to be ahead of Mike McCarthy and Kevin McLaughlin for the utility slot. McLaughlin is arguably the better six, but Ryan and McCarthy the better locks, with the latter having one last chance today.

Backrows (5): Jamie Heaslip and Seán O'Brien are cast in stone, as should be David Wallace. Stephen Ferris should travel too once he comes through 20 or 30 minutes today unscathed. On all known pedigree and selection guidelines, so too will Denis Leamy. Mind you, if Shane Jennings goes really well today, given the doubts about Wallace it would be difficult to leave out his experience, breakdown skills and defensive savvy.

Scrumhalves (3):Intriguing, as five into three won't go. But Peter Stringer appears to be out of the loop, while Conor Murray is coming from fifth place. Tomás O'Leary looks still to be the de facto first-choice, though the management will be hoping for signs of his best form today, and Eoin Reddan will go.

There’s a strong case for Murray, in both short and long term, the Leinster move has been good for Isaac Boss, and despite making only two substitute appearances since the last World Cup, with his Kiwi upbringing and sometime ability to cover full-back/wing, he looks to be marginally ahead.

Outhalves (2): Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O'Gara. End of story. The All Blacks will have the best outhalf in the tournament, Ireland will have the best back-up.

Centres (3): Some bloke called O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy (once he passes today's test) are cast in stone. Paddy Wallace, covering 12 and the third choice out-half, will travel too.

Wings (4):Tommy Bowe will go, while Andrew Trimble and Keith Earls are playing very good rugby and the latter's versatility gives the management elbow room. Which, potentially, could leave the final slot between Luke Fitzgerald and Fergus McFadden.

After Fitzgerald’s inability to convince at full-back in last season’s Six Nations, he has showed signs of a return to form and taking some of the anxiousness out of his game. On Leinster form, and on a straw poll amongst their supporters, one ventures McFadden would win out but Fitzgerald has more experience of test rugby and the Irish set-up.

Furthermore, despite his Leinster versatility, McFadden appears to be regarded as more of a winger than a midfielder by the Irish coaches. On form McFadden perhaps, on talent Fitzgerald maybe. It could be cruelly tough on one of them.

Fullbacks (2):With Earls already covering outside centre, it may be too much to ask the reluctant utility back to also cover fullback, and the management's selections thus far hint that the coaches want to have cover here.

Along with Rob Kearney, on the face of things Felix Jones’ selection today strongly hints he’s ahead of Geordan Murphy. While Murphy was hors de combat, the hitherto unfortunate Jones nailed down the Munster number 15 slot, though the Challenge Cup semi-final highlighted his relative rawness.

World Cups have not been kind to Murphy, who cruelly missed out in ’03 and appeared almost victimized by O’Sullivan four years ago when only an injury to Dempsey granted him his sole start against Argentina.

Despite defensive issues his class and experience remain, but tellingly whereas Murphy’s warm-up appearances have been for Leicester and against Connacht, Jones is playing his third successive Test today.

Conor Murray could be a Toto Schillachi

Paddy Wallace is a luxury but Conor Murray could be the great unknown, writes LIAM TOLAND

LIKE THE Olympics the Rugby World Cup comes around but every four years. To many Irish athletes, walking into the stadium behind the Irish flag on opening night is an enormous achievement, and rightly so.

Tough calls have never been so tough, four quality scrumhalves with a fifth bursting at the seams, each one with unbridled strengths. So does Kidney remain optimistic and pick on strengths or does he stray into pessimism and pick on weaknesses? If so, how do you ignore Peter Stringer’s pass not to mention 98 caps?

If the latter, then how do you ignore Isaac Boss who brings an all abrasive, competitive style into the face of any opposition; ditto openside where David Wallace carries but Shane Jennings steals. If fit, where does Stephen Ferris play?

This group have a serious chance of progressing. Australia on September 17th dictate how far, as a win there could have us up against old foes of England and Wales so the squad should be tailored for the Wallabies. With a few manageable aspects this team are better prepared, better focused and better ‘trophied’ than any previous Irish side.

As the contest for possession is a key feature of rugby then the Irish squad must be able to get and hold the ball; scrum, lineout and breakdown, so let’s start there.

But then to beat Australia creative use of that very ball is crucial so let’s start there.

Well, I finally started with the 43 currently in the squad and after a good morning whittled it down to 37. Exhausted, in the end I picked my starting 15 and filled in realistic starters (not cover players), making bold assumptions on fitness. But for the injury to Jerry Flannery I would have stumped for just two hookers. I also believe passionately that if Ferris is up to travel he should do so as an impact second row from the bench.

As an emergency cover outhalf/centre Paddy Wallace is a luxury that we can’t afford. Andrew Trimble is unlucky but lacks the real top end sparkle of the others. Every world stage deserves an unknown such as Italian Toto Schillaci in Italia ’90. Conor Murray could be the new Toto!

Ireland should have gone outside the box

DECLAN KIDNEY has overlooked some better options at prop and centre, writes JOHN O'SULLIVAN

THE REMIT for Ireland coach Declan Kidney in compiling his 30-man World Cup squad is akin to trying to assemble a 1,000-piece jigsaw from a box containing about 20 additional tiles. All fit but the picture may be slightly distorted depending on which ones are employed.

Ireland must fulfil four fixtures in the pool stages but in essence play two matches; against Australia and Italy. The results of these games will largely determine their fate. Kidney must weigh up a myriad of mini conundrums and there is no room for passengers on this plane.

Rob Kearney’s groin strain means that Kidney will want a bona fide fullback as cover. Geordan Murphy looked sharp in Donnybrook but his rehabilitation has come a little late. It’s interesting to note that when Ireland won an Under-20 Grand Slam in 2007 Felix Jones played fullback on that team, Darren Cave at outside centre and Keith Earls on the wing.

Kidney prepares meticulously and he’s likely to have spoken to Eric Elwood, who coached that underage team. Jones is quick and a natural fullback. Luke Fitzgerald and Keith Earls have been given chances in the 15 jersey but have yet to be consistently convincing.

In the three quarter line Fitzgerald and Paddy Wallace will probably go at the expense of Fergus McFadden, which would be a little bit of a travesty form wise. I’d take James Downey because if anything happened to Gordon D’Arcy he’d be a better fit than any reshuffling. He’s big, strong, direct and could play at least two of the four matches.

At scrumhalf Conor Murray has form over Tomás O’Leary’s pedigree. Isaac Boss should go but mightn’t in an accommodation of the two Munster scrumhalves.

Ireland need a solid scrum and in that respect Jamie Hagan is better than his peers for the role of second tighthead prop but Kidney may elect to bring Marcus Horan, a loosehead, who contributes more all round.

The backrow may prompt the longest debate. One of the six remaining places will go to a player who can also fill the secondrow role. Kevin McLaughlin, Mike McCarthy and Donnacha Ryan are the primary contenders. Kidney may opt for the latter but they’ve been supportive of McCarthy and he might just squeak in.

Shane Jennings has a chance to remind the Irish management of his many qualities today but if Kidney and Gert Smal consider that Seán O’Brien can also fulfil the seven role then Denis Leamy will go to New Zealand.