Former Ireland international Macolm O’Kelly has said the autumn internationals will be a “huge challenge for this young squad” and represent a significant opportunity for the new, or fringe players in the squad to cement a place in the long term set up. He includes New Zealand born Michael Bent in this group. O’Kelly doesn’t see Bent’s inclusion in the squad, and potential selection, as a problem and said the issue of foreign born players playing international rugby for nations such as Ireland and England “is nothing new.”

The former Leinster lock dismissed the claims that Bent has been allowed into the international set up too soon, querying “when is a good time?” and pointing out that “it’s not as if he’s been doing nothing in New Zealand.”

O’Kelly was talking at the launch of Halo 4 for the xbox and told Newstalk’s Oisin Langan about his personal gaming habits, and those of the Ireland squad when he was still playing rugby.

" height="80" frameborder="0" style="width: 100% !important; height: 80px !important;">