Ever since Irish rugby changed forever when Brian O'Driscoll burst onto the scene, there have been some established players that have been automatic selections for province and country. For the most part these players were picked whether their form warranted it or not, and there wasn't too much outrage because a) the player's past had earned it, and b) there wasn't much depth and therefore no alternatives.
But now, there is quite a bit of depth developing, and there are still some players who are automatic selection anyway, and there are others who could have helped their place in Schmidt's standings and may have fallen behind.
1. Rob Kearney
The pressure is rising for Rob Kearney. The Louth native is a long way removed from his peak in 2009, and there are genuine challengers to his monopolised 15 shirt emerging. There is no full-back in Europe better than Kearney in the air, and positionally he's the best available to Schmidt - which means that he's likely to retain his place for the upcoming Six Nations. The main issue is that teams don't kick to Kearney as much, eliminating a big strength of the full-backs.
But the attacking instincts from that South African Lions tour haven't been overly apparent, and he has a tendency to run straight into opposition defences when trying to counter-attack. It's noteworthy that Schmidt seems to be the influencer behind Simon Zebo's move to fullback - as if he's not pleased with the lack of attacking ballast coming from the back.
For all of Zebo's attacking merits at 15, he's almost as bad as Kearney as a one-on-one tackler, but his positioning isn't as good. Kearney's main immediate challenger comes from Jared Payne. Payne covers all the bases that Schmidt likes - very solid defender, good in the air, and he thrives in the extra space afforded to him from full-back. Payne won't just run straight into defences when counter-attacking - he has the vision and ability to engineer a break either for himself or his teammates.
It's only Schmidt's preference for Payne at 13 that is keeping Kearney in the team, but hopefully the emergence of centre options in Luke Fitzgerald, Luke Marshall, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, and eventually Garry Ringrose will see Payne restored to his natural 15 position.
At 29, there's no reason why Kearney can't rediscover the form that got him to this level. But he needs to have the shackles taken off him, with more consistency.
2. Cian Healy
Cian Healy is another world class operator who hasn't been at his best for at least a year. In Healy's case, injuries have taken their toll on the prop, and he hasn't returned to his peerless form of 2013-14. His absence has done two things - one, it meant that Healy is still rusty and working his way back into form. Two - it's allowed Jack McGrath time to develop into a top class operator himself.
We're at a strange stage in Irish rugby were international quality looseheads are crawling out of our ears. Behind Healy and McGrath there's James Cronin and Dave Kilcoyne in Munster, Kyle McCall in Ulster, and Denis Buckley in Connacht. And that doesn't include the highly rated academy prospects of Jeremy Loughman, Peter Dooley, and Andrew Porter (aka Cian Healy 2.0).
Healy is still only 28, which is still young in prop terms. He just needs a run of games and he should get back into the form that makes him the best looshead prop in the world. Until then, Jack McGrath is doing a fantastic impression of the Lions test loosehead.
3. Jamie Heaslip
We know that Jamie Heaslip isn't the ball-carrying backrow that he used to be seven years ago. But that doesn't mean that he hasn't been highly effective for Ireland and Leinster in the time. On the rare occasions that Heaslip doesn't play, he's missed. The dirty grunt work doesn't get done, and oppositions enjoy possession and dominance over Ireland that they wouldn't otherwise.
But even Heaslip has been effected by the World Cup. Not as much, but his presence in the Leinster team this season hasn't had the galvanising effect of usual. It's unfortunate for him really, because it's come just as CJ Stander becomes eligible to threaten him. Stander is the only challenger to Heaslip's monopoly on the No. 8 jersey since Denis Leamy, and the South African-born back rower has been exceptional for Munster for two seasons.
Heaslip's leadership will be needed in the Six Nations given the gaping holes of Paul O'Connell and Peter O'Mahony. For the moment, Heaslip is still certain to start, but he could use a big tournament to keep Stander at bay.
4. Johnny Sexton
There may not be many, but there are some rugby fans who would have just taken up the sport because of the World Cup. To those fans, there is only one player who should be the starting outhalf for Ireland - Paddy Jackson.
Why? Because save for one game against the Ospreys, Johnny Sexton hasn't been Johnny Sexton. We know he's a good player, and an 80% Sexton is still our best option, but Jackson has taken his game to a new level this season.
Sexton's biggest threat could be himself, if he keeps getting head injuries.
5. Conor Murray
Eoin Reddan has found some form, Luke McGrath is finally being given the chance to show his talents, and Kieran Marmion is still banging on the door. It's not a good time for Murray to have the worst season of his impressive career so far.
Perhaps we are asking too much of him, the scrumhalf has been on the go for several years now, taking a giant leap after giant leap, first getting into the international set-up, then he established himself with the Lions in 2013. Murray came from almost nowhere to the second best scrumhalf in the world in such a short period of time.
Munster fans would have expected him to be their leader after the World Cup, with Paul O'Connell leaving, and O'Mahony and O'Donnell on the sidelines. But it didn't happen. Injuries played a big factor no doubt, but Murray has only shown glimpses of himself. He'll be afforded room that he's earned for the Six Nations, but he can't afford to rest on his laurels.
6. Tommy Bowe
Possibly a harsh inclusion, but I felt there needed to be some balance and not an attack on Leinster players. Unfortunately, Bowe is at the wrong age at this stage of a World Cup cycle. The 31-year-old winger is coming off a succession of bad knee injuries, and will be coming back to an even more competitive wing competition in both Ulster and Ireland. Rory Scholes is finally breaking out, Craig Gilroy is still doing Craig Gilroy things, and Andrew Trimble is a man on a mission after the World Cup snub.
It's not like Bowe's form pre-injury was blemish free. It's a testament to how good the Monaghan man is that everyone accepted his horror show against England as a blip. Bowe is top class, he's just lost a step of pace through his many injuries, and the competition is heating up.
Pre World Cup he was the only winger in Ireland that was an automatic choice to start even with that England performance. Are we certain that's the case anymore?
7. Simon Zebo
The open spaces being afforded to a wandering Zebo were meant to get the best out of the flier. Even Felix Jones' retirement seemed like the perfect opportunity to let him grow as a 15 and challenge Kearney. Not only did Zebo not put up a challenge to Kearney, but he also wasn't playing at full-back over Andrew Conway.
He may be affected by contract negotiations, and Munster's general malaise - but Zebo had a chance to kick on and force Kearney's hand internationally. He didn't take it, and his place in the Ireland 23 is in serious doubt.
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