From there to here: The players who survived after Millennium mauling
1. Jamie Heaslip
Then: Captain and No 8 Now: Suffered a back injury in the warm-up to the 2017 Six Nations meeting with England and never played again, officially retiring in February this year. Now has a number of business interests and is a pundit for Channel 4.
Caps since last RWC: 15
2. Mike Ross
Then: Tighthead prop Now: Continued with Ireland until winning his final cap in the defeat to South Africa at the end of the 2016 tour, while he soldiered on for another year with Leinster before retiring. Kept playing for Malahide and coached the Ireland women’s team’s scrum while working in the tech industry. Recently released his autobiography.
Caps since last RWC: 5
3. Rory Best
Then: Vice-captain and hooker Now: Named captain of the team after the World Cup and set to lead the team for the 27th time this evening. Now 36, he has led the team to a Grand Slam, a first victory over the All Blacks and a first win over the Springboks in South Africa.
Caps since last RWC: 22
4. Cian Healy
Then: Starting loosehead prop Now: Was not firing on all cylinders in 2015 but got the nod for the last-eight clash. Now he is in the form of his life and is one of the best players in his position in the world.
Caps since last RWC: 25
5. Tommy Bowe
Then: Starting winger Now: Bowe was forced off with a serious knee injury early in the game and missed the subsequent season. Only played twice more for Ireland and finished his career with Ulster at the end of last season. Now presenting eir Sport’s coverage, runs a schools rugby competition and has a fashion line.
Caps since last RWC: 2
6. Jordi Murphy
Then: Starting blindside flanker Now: Moved to Ulster at the end of last season after starting the Champions Cup final for his native Leinster. Came off the bench against Italy last weekend, but not involved in tonight’s match-day squad. Caps since last RWC: 10
7. Devin Toner
Then: Starting second-row
Now: On the bench tonight, but still very much one of the leading lights in the Leinster and Irish packs and producing excellent performances in both jerseys at 33. The player Schmidt has capped most since the last World Cup.
Caps since RWC: 30
8. Rob Kearney
Then: Starting full-back
Now: Still first-choice No 15, but a shoulder injury has handed one of the next generation an opportunity in Jordan Larmour. Endured some difficult days with injury since Cardiff, but has bounced back and enjoyed a fine 12 months.
Caps since RWC: 19
9. Dave Kearney
Then: Starting winger
Now: One of the most-used players at the 2015 World Cup, Kearney endured a difficult day on the wing and has only played for Ireland three times since as a combination of injury, form and the rise of a new generation squeezed him out of the picture. Caps since RWC: 3
10. Chris Henry
Then: Starting openside flanker Now: Retired on Tuesday after an injury-hit period. Henry never featured for Ireland again after a disappointing performance in Cardiff. Played on with Ulster, but struggled to hit the heights that saw him help the country to the 2014 Six Nations as a starter.
Caps since RWC: 0
11. Jack McGrath
Then: Replacement loosehead prop Now: Back on the bench after a period of ascendancy that saw him earn a place on the 2017 Lions tour, where he was a replacement in all three Tests. Now an important member of the match-day squad at Leinster and Ireland.
Caps since RWC: 26
12. Conor Murray
Then: Starting scrum-half Now: Currently injured, but a key man in Schmidt’s set-up who is celebrating a lucrative new deal that will see him remain at Munster until 2022. Arguably the best scrum-half in the world.
Caps since RWC: 25
13. Keith Earls
Then: Starting outside centre
Now: Has become a central figure in this Ireland team and a quiet but effective leader behind the scenes. Recently penned a new deal, starts on the wing this evening and has not started in midfield for Ireland since 2015.
Caps since RWC: 24
14. Robbie Henshaw
Then: Starting inside centre
Now: A central figure in the Irish midfield for some time, Henshaw moved to Leinster in 2016 after helping Connacht to win the PRO12 title and is a key man in blue. Starts at outside centre tonight.
15. Donnacha Ryan
Then: Replacement second-row Now: Remained a front-line Irish player until he moved to Racing 92 in France
in 2017 where he was a leading light in their run to the Champions Cup final last season.
Caps since RWC: 13
16. Ian Madigan
Then: Starting out-half Now: Remained in Ireland for another year, winning five caps, but left for Bordeaux Begles in 2016 and hasn’t played for the national team since. Left France for Bristol after one season and is now their starting No 10 having helped Pat Lam’s team to promotion.
Caps since RWC: 5
17. Eoin Reddan
Then: Replacement scrum-half Now: Retired after the 2016 summer tour to South Africa to take up a position in aircraft leasing. Also a pundit who regularly appears on Irish radio.
Caps since RWC: 3
18. Nathan White
Then: Replacement tighthead prop
Now: The Connacht prop retired in 2016 due to concussion and returned to his native New Zealand where he recently assisted Jono Gibbes as forwards coach at Waikato in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Caps since RWC: 5
19. Iain Henderson
Then: Starting second-row
Now: Still in position as he and James Ryan start tonight’s game as the firm first-choice pairing. Henderson was one of the stars of last year’s Six Nations win and was awarded a central contract last season.
Caps since RWC: 16
20. Richardt Strauss
Then: Replacement hooker Now: Retired at the end of last season after enduring a torrid time with injuries and returned to South Africa.
Caps since RWC: 4
21. Luke Fitzgerald
Then: Replacement back three Now: Retired in 2016 after a suffering a neck injury and now hosts The Left Wing podcast on independent.ie. He is also an analyst with eir Sport and works for AIB. Caps since RWC: 0
22. Paddy Jackson
Then: Replacement out-half
Now: Was in line to be Johnny Sexton’s back-up out-half for next year’s World Cup until he stood trial on rape charges last year. Was found not guilty, but the IRFU revoked his contract in the aftermath of the case and he now plays for Perpignan in the French Top 14 and is not considered for Ireland.
Caps since RWC: 12
23. Rhys Ruddock
Then: Replacement back-row Now: Captained Ireland on the summer tour of 2017 and again last weekend, but is behind Peter O’Mahony in the pecking order in the back-row. A leading light for Leinster.
Caps since RWC: 14