The IRISH RUGBY thread

[marty34]

Ireland's performance on Saturday night was that of champions in waiting.

Can Ireland win the world cup?
of course, they have shown they are more than good enough when at their best.

Will they win it?
F**k knows given they need to win 3 massive knockout games to do just that.
A huge game up next against All Blacks, the fact remains Ireland have never won a knockout game in a world cup so lots of pressure against an All Blacks side who are experts at exposing any chinks in the armour. McKenzie has been one of the best players I have seen at this world cup (albeit against weaker opposition) and he cant even get in the side.
Get over that massive hurdle and will most likely have to tackle a Welsh team on an upward curve, like the Scottish game Ireland would be expected to beat them but it would be a tricky fixture.
Then the final most likely against a French side with home advantage. Hopefully it is Ireland v France as they have been the 2 best sides and would make for a great final. Ireland would have to produce their absolute best rugby for 80 mins to beat them imo.
Still a long way to go and no real point of looking past the next hurdle. Fingers crossed.

The NZ game is one where Ireland need to keep it very tight, should have the upperhand in the scrum, but you'd fear for Ireland if NZ get a load of ball and start stringing the phases together, but Irelands defence has been strong v SA and for most of the Scotland game barring the two breakaway tries.
Ardie Savea will need some watching but not something beyond this current Irish team.

Need Tadgh, Hansen, Lowe, Ryan and Henshaw fit again though

Tight my arse. Ireland thrive in chaos. The madder and more unpredictable the play the better Ireland are. Once they win this world cup they will be talked about as one of the all time great sides and quite possibly the greatest.

Let's not get carried away.

Great chance to win a World Cup - through a tough group and tough knock-out series but let's not over-cook it.

[marty34]

With NZ, although poor by their standards, you never know.

They always have a performance in them and are so unpredictable.

Depends what NZ turns up but Ireland are favourites after their controlled performances so far.  The two week break after the SA game seems to have done them the world of good.

[seafoid]

ROG was interviewed on the breakdown and he tipped France to win

[seafoid]

Every single Irish RWC exit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O_qDxHQnsg

[bennydorano]

There's every chance we'll depart at the QF stage again but it'll hardly be because we choke, it's going to be a 50/50 game, bit of luck required.

[JoG2]

There's every chance we'll depart at the QF stage again but it'll hardly be because we choke, it's going to be a 50/50 game, bit of luck required.

Absolutely, some hooers on here with a semi already at the prospect of a q/f exit

Still think we'll win the thing.

[seafoid]

France - South Africa is going to be a belter

[Bord na Mona man]

If Ireland lose, the usual tropes will be about them being perennial bottlers, chokers, posh boys, overhyped, blah blah.

While Ireland have never made it to the last 4, for most of the WC history Ireland haven't been one of the world's top 4 sides anyway. The big 3 SH teams, England & France would always have been better.

2007 was the first time they could have had some expectations of going deep in the tournament, but they peaked 6 months too early.

2011 vs. Wales was a chance missed when Gatland brilliantly nullified Ireland's vaunted backrow threat.
Added to that, Declan Kidney lost his nerve and brought ROG back ahead of Sexton with predictable results.

2015 being nearer full strength they would have taken Argentina, but Schmidt-ball, pick and crash rugby was too attritional.
2019 was something similar. They way the Japanese ran Ireland ragged and Ireland were unable to cope with higher tempo rugby.

In recent times, when Ireland have had the better quality, they've been outfoxed by nations who do tournament rugby better.
NZ had similar travails for years. Invariably the best rugby team around, but kept getting dunked in WCs.

[ClubScene13]

If Ireland lose, the usual tropes will be about them being perennial bottlers, chokers, posh boys, overhyped, blah blah.

While Ireland have never made it to the last 4, for most of the WC history Ireland haven't been one of the world's top 4 sides anyway. The big 3 SH teams, England & France would always have been better.

2007 was the first time they could have had some expectations of going deep in the tournament, but they peaked 6 months too early.

2011 vs. Wales was a chance missed when Gatland brilliantly nullified Ireland's vaunted backrow threat.
Added to that, Declan Kidney lost his nerve and brought ROG back ahead of Sexton with predictable results.

2015 being nearer full strength they would have taken Argentina, but Schmidt-ball, pick and crash rugby was too attritional.
2019 was something similar. They way the Japanese ran Ireland ragged and Ireland were unable to cope with higher tempo rugby.

In recent times, when Ireland have had the better quality, they've been outfoxed by nations who do tournament rugby better.
NZ had similar travails for years. Invariably the best rugby team around, but kept getting dunked in WCs.

I wouldn't agree that England have been expected to do much better than Ireland in world cups the last 10 years? They have turned up and produced time and time again where Ireland have faltered. Getting smacked in 2019 only for England to go and beat NZ comfortably enough was particularly jarring

[Bord na Mona man]

If Ireland lose, the usual tropes will be about them being perennial bottlers, chokers, posh boys, overhyped, blah blah.

While Ireland have never made it to the last 4, for most of the WC history Ireland haven't been one of the world's top 4 sides anyway. The big 3 SH teams, England & France would always have been better.

2007 was the first time they could have had some expectations of going deep in the tournament, but they peaked 6 months too early.

2011 vs. Wales was a chance missed when Gatland brilliantly nullified Ireland's vaunted backrow threat.
Added to that, Declan Kidney lost his nerve and brought ROG back ahead of Sexton with predictable results.

2015 being nearer full strength they would have taken Argentina, but Schmidt-ball, pick and crash rugby was too attritional.
2019 was something similar. They way the Japanese ran Ireland ragged and Ireland were unable to cope with higher tempo rugby.

In recent times, when Ireland have had the better quality, they've been outfoxed by nations who do tournament rugby better.
NZ had similar travails for years. Invariably the best rugby team around, but kept getting dunked in WCs.

I wouldn't agree that England have been expected to do much better than Ireland in world cups the last 10 years? They have turned up and produced time and time again where Ireland have faltered. Getting smacked in 2019 only for England to go and beat NZ comfortably enough was particularly jarring

Only in recent years though. From 1987 up to 2007 England went into the tournament more fancied than Ireland.
It's only from 2007 and onwards that Ireland could be thought to be not making their mark at the WC.

[gallsman]

Barnes the referee for Saturday ffs.

[Walter Cronc]

Barnes the referee for Saturday ffs.

Barnes far from the worst!

[Bord na Mona man]

Barnes has relaxed in recent years and has improved as a ref.
In his early days he was quite officious. He loved giving unexpected penalties for obscure reasons to show he was the smartest man in the stadium when it came to the laws.

Ireland often suffered against him more than others, but not so much nowadays.
Also, he still gets a ton of abuse from NZ people over missing a forward pass that caused them to get knocked out by France in the 2007 WC.

[seafoid]

I think that it will be a massive test of character but that , injuries permitting, we have the best chance of beating NZ in knockout competition. Concentration, adaptability, accuracy, physicality and management are all at a very high level.

[trailer]

Ireland can't lose every QF ever. They have to win one and what better time to do that when you are the best team in the world against one of the great rugby nations.

Ireland comfortably - 10+
This is as close to a sure thing you can get. Get the house on it.