Olympic Stadium just the latest stop on Ireland's road to Cardiff

Today's opponents have disappointed in their opening games, and while there will be some substance to the physical challenge they present, they're currently endowed with even less game-winning capabilities than at most times over recent seasons - and that's saying something.

Sergio Parisse's absence from the opening games through injury undoubtedly dulled their offensive edge, and dampened their spirit too. It's difficult to overstate the extent to which he's relied on for his leadership and sheer class to carry them through tight situations.

The talisman's return today will be an immeasurable boost, and will imbue in his team-mates a sense of confidence of upsetting the odds but, realistically, their chances of doing so are slim.

The manner in which Ireland have despatched weaker pool opponents has been deeply impressive, with competition for starting places at an all-time high.

We've escaped the standard attrition rates too with Rob Kearney and Jared Payne the only concerns - relatively minor ones too, when compared to the issues being faced by other squads.

Simon Zebo's performances have greatly mitigated any concerns over Kearney's absence. The Corkman's distribution has improved and if his kicking game doesn't yet rival that of Kearney, he does offer greater incisiveness in broken play.

The blame for a tendency of our attack to go around the defence rather than through the middle has been laid largely, and unfairly in my view, at Payne's door and while injury rules him out today, I believe it unlikely that Schmidt would have had any inclination to leave him out.

A significant characteristic of the coach has been his capacity to balance meticulous planning with a propensity for unexpected selections. Many would have viewed Luke Fitzgerald as the most likely curve ball at 13, making the selection of Keith Earls for today something of a surprise. Having said that, his performance on the wing last week was signficiant. He is looking sharper and stronger than ever, and his potent mix of speed off the mark and confidence levels presents an exciting prospect in midfield.

Earls' displays, and those of Dave Kearney and, last week, Tommy Bowe, have made the wing the team's most competitive area. Bowe's performance against Romania was an especially welcome reminder of his abilities. It was only a matter of time, however, before he returned to form and a step-up in intensity today will suit him perfectly.

Aerial ability has been consistently cited as a key requirement of Schmidt's wings, and the expectation of more kicking in the games against the major teams could work in his favour in coming weeks.

Up front, Iain Henderson is now one of our most talked-about players as he collects admirers across the world, and his selection alongside O'Connell confirms his status in the eyes of Schmidt and Simon Easterby. It also brings to the team a repertoire of skills rare in Irish forwards, and very different to those offered by Devin Toner with whom he's battling for the coach's preference in the context of the anticipated challenges of the particular opposition.

Toner's inclusion on the bench is interesting though, as many would have preferred the versatility of Donnacha Ryan. A tough and experienced campaigner, Ryan, like Henderson, is more than comfortable at blindside.

All in all, there's a lot to mull over, and much focus will be on Earls as he engages an Italian midfield which has been singularly unimpressive to date. They have shown little, if anything, in recent times to justify continued consideration as a top-tier nation and currently have more in common with those opponents we've already encountered than those lying in wait. The Olympic Stadium should be little more than another stop on Ireland's journey to the pool decider . . . and beyond.