There were very few bright sparks in Ireland's sluggish performance against Russia, but Rhys Ruddock certainly put his hand up for selection with his man of the match display.
Former Leinster prop Mike Ross spoke to Off The Ball after the game and said he was impressed with the performance of the Leinster number six.
"I know Rhys [Ruddock] a long time and people don't realise the engine he has. I remember doing pre-season training and there was a 1km fitness test which is ten lengths of the pitch.
"Rhys did it in about three minutes twenty-five seconds, which was up there with the best times. He's a bit of an athletic freak and he just works all day for you," Ross said.
Jack Conan was injured in training before Ireland's game against Japan and his replacement for the Russia game - Jordi Murphy - left the game early on.
Depending on the severity of the injury there may need to be some reshuffling in Ireland's back row.
Second-row combinations
"I think, looking forward to Samoa, there is going to be a few selection conundrums, who is your back row?
"Probably the best second-row combination is more than likely James Ryan and Iain Henderson, but I would have thought Tadhg Beirne would have put his hand up too," the former Leinster prop said.
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan SheridanRoss thinks with the performance of Ruddock it will not be easy to choose the back row and he certainly does not envy Joe Schmidt's position.
"It is a conundrum, isn't it? I mean Josh [van der Flier] is a guy who works all day, makes tackles and keeps going. Peter [O'Mahony] is just really good to have at line-out plus the leadership he brings.
"CJ [Stander] is a good man for carrying into hard traffic, but it is a tough one. I think he might pick Rhys [Ruddock] at 6, van der Flier at 7 and O'Mahoney at 8," he said.
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