Joe Schmidt used just 27 players in leading Ireland to back to back Six Nations titles for only the second time ever. This partly due to injuries to the likes of Chris Henry, Andrew Trimble and Rhys Ruddock, while others like Keith Earls and Gordon D'Arcy are knocking on the door for selection too. Ireland have more than 31 players that are capable of making the squad which means that there will be a lot of tough decisions.
World Rugby permits only 31 men can be in a squad for the World Cup, which is significantly less than the 34-38 man extended squads that we'd be used to for every other game.
After the Six Nations, we've got a good sense of the lay of the squad, so here is the 31 men that we think Schmidt will take to rugby's global showpiece:
Front Row Selections:
1. Cian Healy, Jack McGrath and Dave Kilcoyne
Healy and McGrath are nailed in at the top two looseheads. The real battle is between James Cronin and Dave Kilcoyne, and whoever finishes the season as Munster's first choice will have the edge.
2. Rory Best, Sean Cronin and Richardt Strauss.
Schmidt has consistently had those three as his top three hookers. Rob Herring has been called in when there is an injury. Duncan Casey may in some great form, but he hasn't even been in an extended squad with Schmidt so.
3. Mike Ross, Martin Moore, and Nathan White
Mike Ross is Joe's man. Moore is the up and comer. The third spot is up for grabs. The contenders are Rodney Ah You, Tadhg Furlong and Nathan White. Furlong appears to be ahead of Ah You after being called up for the final two games in the Six Nations, although Ah You started against Georgia last November.
White is highly thought of by Schmidt, and is probably ahead of the rest.
Second Row:
Paul O'Connell, Iain Henderson and Devin Toner
There is no doubt that all of those three will be in the squad. The question is whether there is room for another. Will Schmidt go for 17 or 18 forwards? If it's 17, will he bring four or five backrowers?
With Henderson covering the backrow, if there is a final position, it's between Dave Foley, Dan Tuohy, and Donnacha Ryan.
Back Row
Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony, Chris Henry, Rhys Ruddock.
With the restrictions of only 31 men being named, this leaves no room for Jordi Murphy or Tommy O'Donnell - both of whom impressed greatly in the Six Nations. That all depends on the return from injury for Rhys Ruddock and Chris Henry, both of whom were ahead of Murphy and O'Donnell when all four were fit.
Ruddock's place is under threat from the fourth option in the second row as it is.
Scrumhalf:
Conor Murray, Eoin Reddan, and Isaac Boss.
Murray and Reddan are both guaranteed travellers, with Boss ahead of Connacht's Kieran Marmion as it stands after Boss was included over Marmion for the Italian and French games. However, Marmion was namechecked by Schmidt in the pre-match press conference before the Scotland game as a player he wanted to have available to travel with the 23 man squad to sample the matchday atmosphere.
Watch this space.
Outhalf:
Johnny Sexton, Ian Madigan, Ian Keatley
Will there even be three outhalves named? With the restrictions, Schmidt might just forfeit the safety of a third outhalf in favour of having more options elsewhere. Sexton, Madigan and Keatley will be his outhalves, most likely in that order. Paddy Jackson is the only other option, but has to regain form and fitness in a very short amount of time.
Centres:
Robbie Henshaw, Jared Payne, Gordon D'Arcy
Both Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne are guaranteed, while I'm backing Gordon D'Arcy to prove people wrong again. Schmidt loves his experience, and with an extremely inexperienced centers otherwise, he will be invaluable. He was the last centre to play for Ireland not named Henshaw or Payne.
Stuart Olding has the biggest chance of someone to do a Conor Murray, where he comes from nowhere to make the squad.
Wingers:
Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Luke Fitzgerald
This position is the most volatile, and Schmidt has used different wingers each year, admitedly due to injury. Fitzgerald did extremely well against Scotland, and the way he linked up with Henshaw genuinely excites. Trimble has a lot of good credit built up in the bank, while Bowe is on another level. It's incredibly harsh on Simon Zebo and Earls, but when there isn't enough room...
Fullbacks:
Rob Kearney and Felix Jones
It may not be what I'd do, but Jones was consistently in the 23 man squad for a reason, so seeing him travelling isn't far-fetched.
See Also: 7 Irish Players Who Could Still Force Themselves Back Into The World Cup Squad
