Rob Kearney needs to up his game a little bit according to former Ireland captain Keith Wood.
Wood was on Off The Ball as always on a Wednesday, alongside The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley and wants to see an improvement in a player he regards as a key presence in the dressing room.
"I still would have liked to see his standard up a bit higher this year," said Keith.
"I think he had a very solid Six Nations but I would still expect more of him. I look at him as a a leader in a variety of ways. He is a rock of sense all the time and a voice that's there in the background all the time. He gives a sense of calm at the back. I'd like to see him mix his game up a little bit. I think too often he's running it back."
He and Gerry also analysed the players who could raise their hands to emerge from the fringes for key roles in the upcoming World Cup.
Gerry also explained why he thinks Ireland's World Cup group companions France are "the best value bet for the World Cup".
Meanwhile, Keith also feels Ireland need to add a little bit to the game-plan for those challenges to come when Plan A does not suit.
"You need to have Plan B and Plan C to be able to cater for a key player having an off-day," he said.
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