EMBRACING HOPE ahead of Rugby World Cups has seen Irish rugby fans being burned more times than the Wicker Man. Mention out loud that there is now compelling evidence supporting the view that their New Zealand-busting, Springbok-beating, France-thrashing, Grand Slam-winning team can, and possibly will, win the World Cup in France in the autumn and you’ll be shouted down and labelled a curse. World Cup glory is, to many in Ireland, the dream that dare not speak its name.
You will be hit with stories of past heartaches, of good Irish teams peaking too early and failing on the biggest stage, of four years ago when they went into the tournament in Japan as world number one – as they are now – only to get beaten by the host nation in the pool stage and then humiliated by the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.
Referring to past letdowns is all but meaningless to a new Ireland, though. They’ve beaten everybody. They’ve won ten Tests in a row. Here’s a list of players who had no part in peaking too early four years ago given that none of them were in Joe Schmidt’s squad. Dan Sheehan and Rónan Kelleher (hookers), Finlay Bealham and Tom O’Toole (props), Ryan Baird (lock), Caelan Doris (No 8), Jamison Gibson-Park, Craig Casey (scrum-halves), Ross Byrne (fly-half), Mack Hansen, James Lowe (wings), Hugo Keenan (full-back).
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Rugby World.
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Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Rugby World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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ALL EYES ON ROSS
OSS VINTCENT sees a lot of similarities between Exeter and Italy, the two teams for whom he struts his powerful, dynamic stuff. The 22-year-old No 8 recognises the crossover in age profile and mentality but is also well aware of the potential shared pitfalls, having been part of a young Chiefs group's struggles to back up an impressive breakout campaign.
BABY BLEU
Léo Barré is the latest in a line of young French stars hoping to bury the blues of last season's World Cup
Tom Voyce
RW pays tribute to the late England wing who was a key part of Wasps' golden era
"Scotland v Ireland is key to the whole shooting match"
Selection for the Lions four will hinge greatly on the Six Nations, says Stephen Jones. So who are the bolters who can force their way in?
Spanish steps
It's a new era for los Leones and their impressive coach Pablo Bouza - and only qualification for the 2027 World Cup will do
OLD PRIORIAN RFC
Giving grass-roots rugby the love that it deserves....
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? MEL DEANE
I WAS at Wasps as a youngster, then signed for Richmond as a pro when I finished university in 1996. I played in Richmond's 106-12 win over Bedford in 1999 - still the biggest-ever Premiership victory.
MY RUGBY WORLD WITH STUART MCINALLY
The ex-Scotland captain turned commercial pilot on Blair Kinghorn, lucky boxers and a famous try
"YOU'RE A LONG TIME RETIRED"
After a ten-year hiatus, Rugby World editor Joe Robinson strapped the boots back on and returned to the rugby field
DOWNTIME WITH... Helena Rowland "I'd love to learn the fiddle and play country music"
The Loughborough and Red Roses star on violin playing, air fryers and historical fiction
