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How have Ireland's previous residency players performed in the green jersey?

CJ Stander is set to make his Irish debut on Sunday afternoon. The Munster captain was named in J...



How have Ireland's previou...
Rugby

How have Ireland's previous residency players performed in the green jersey?

CJ Stander is set to make his Irish debut on Sunday afternoon.

The Munster captain was named in Joe Schmidt's side for the opening game of the campaign and the back-row forward will be hopeful of staying in the squad for the whole tournament. 

Stander had previously captained the South African Under-20 side at the Junior World Championships in 2010. He was also named in the Springboks training squad ahead of the 2012 June series against Wales, but he was never capped by the side.

As Stander is set to join a list of players to play for Ireland who have qualified by residency, here are five other players who have qualified to play with Ireland through that route.

Nathan White (Debut v Scotland 15/08/2015)

The prop was a late contender to make Ireland's World Cup squad last year. Helped by the injury to Marty Moore, White moved up the pecking order and made his debut off the bench in a World Cup warm-up game against Scotland.

White moved to Ireland in 2011, leaving his native New Zealand to join Leinster. He moved west to Connacht a year later, where he remains to this day.

Image: ©INPHO/Craig Thomas

The 34-year-old has earned eight caps for Ireland and featured in all five games in last year's World Cup. His only start in the tournament came against Romania, but he was also named in Joe Schmidt's team for the Wales game.

Jared Payne (Debut v South Africa 8/11/2014)

The full-back turned centre has become one of the mainstays of Schmidt's Ireland teams. He was introduced following the retirement of Brian O'Driscoll and quickly formed an effective partnership with Connacht's Rob Henshaw.

The former New Zealand Under-21 international moved to Ulster in 2011, having come from Super Rugby where he represented the Chiefs, Crusaders and Blues.

Image: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

Payne currently has ten caps for Ireland. He played in the World Cup against Canada and Romania, before he left the tournament with a foot injury. He returns to the centre on Sunday, partnering Henshaw against Wales.

Rodney Ah You (Debut v Argentina 07/06/2014)

The Connacht prop has featured three times for Ireland and made his debut in the summer tour of Argentina in 2014, but his stint in the green jersey lasted just over five months. He has not featured in the team since the November international against Georgia.

Ah You moved to Connacht in 2010, having previously played NPC rugby in New Zealand for Canterbury, but failing to make the Super Rugby grade for Crusaders. The 27-year-old turned out at underage level for New Zealand's Under-19 and Under-20 sides.

The prop has been in the news in recent weeks after it was confirmed he is to leave Connacht to join Ulster at the end of the season.

Robbie Diack (Debut v Argentina 07/06/2014)

South African-born Diack made his debut for Ireland in 2014 in the same fixture as Ah You. The similarities don't end there however, as Diack made two appearances for Ireland and his last cap came against Georgia in a November international in 2014.

Diack joined Ulster in 2008 after spending two years in South Africa with the Stormers, and has become an integral part of Les Kiss' side in recent years, making over 100 appearances for the province.

Image: ©INPHO/James Crombie

While his international future may not be looking promising, Diack has a contract with Ulster until the end of the 2017 season.

Richardt Strauss (Debut v South Africa 10/11/2012)

Strauss, along with Jared Payne, is one of the most successful Irish internationals to qualify by residency. The Leinster hooker made his debut in 2012 against his native South Africa, while his cousin Adriaan was on the opposing team.

The hooker joined Leinster in 2009 from the Free State Cheetahs. He has played Super Rugby for the team and also represented South Africa at underage level.

Former Ireland captain Paul O'Connell, Nathan White and Richardt Strauss in training ahead of last year's World Cup.  Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

It hasn't been all smooth sailing however, as his career was almost ended in 2013 when he was diagnosed with a heart condition that required surgery. He was named in Joe Schmidt's World Cup squad and played against Romania, France and Argentina, and has been included in the training squad for the opening Six Nations training squad but failed to make the squad for the Wales game.

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