Week 4 of the 2019 Rugby World Cup

In the end, it was altogether straight forward; needing a four-try victory on Saturday to secure qualification, Ireland ran in seven tries en route to a 47-5 demolition job of Samoa. As it transpires, the result of the group’s other game – the typhoon-threatened, legal action pending, meeting of Japan and Scotland – meant we needn’t have been nervous anyway. So, well done to the men in green!

 

 

Your reward is a meeting with the All Blacks…

 

Yes, a date with the most intimidating team in rugby is next up for Ireland – live on eir Sport 1 from 11am on Saturday – with many pundits predicting another meek quarter-final exit for Joe Schmidt’s men. But we can dare to dream, right? In fact, we can even dare to use logic! Because while the bookies might see things in New Zealand’s favour, we reckon there’s good reason to keep the faith...

 

COOL HEADS PREVAIL

 

The sight of our boys sweating buckets during the opening skirmishes of the tournament were alarming; the humidity in Japan can be legit, and it looked to be having a serious effect on Irish performances. But the conditions are relenting – and the energy levels rising, right as we needed them to. No, temperate conditions alone won’t be enough to guarantee victory, but it’s one less thing to worry about…

 

THE FORM FRONT

 

You might not know this, but the last time Ireland played New Zealand, they won. We know – it sort of slipped below the radar; hardly anyone talked about it. An equally easily-forgotten victory in Chicago is inked in the record books too – the record since the last World Cup, then, is 2-1 in Ireland’s favour. While that might not count for much on the pitch, it will have a profound effect in the minds of players, coaches and everyone else; if we’ve done it once (and, in fact, twice!), then we can do it again…

 

WIN OR RUST

 

While popular opinion states that the cancellation of New Zealand’s outing against Italy will count in their favour, we’re not entirely convinced. Approaches for the tournament at large are often carefully calibrated to measure out the minutes and ensure players’ workloads are just so – and a weekend with their feet up might not have been ideal for Steve Hansen’s men. Are we being optimistic here? You bet! But if you see sloppiness from Sam Whitelock or signs of rust from Richie Mo’unga, you’ll know why...

 

FIGHTING FIT

 

A rollercoaster ride doesn’t get close to describing it, but Ireland might just have landed with a nigh-on full-strength squad just when they needed it. Key men like Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray have made it through unscathed; Robbie Henshaw has returned, and Rob Kearney should do similarly. It’s not a 100% return, so to speak, but at this point that would be close to impossible; with something resembling a full deck in front of him, Joe Schmidt should muster up a pretty good hand to play!

 

LET THE MEMORY LIVE AGAIN

 

Though their back-to-back tournament victories speak for themselves, that’s not the whole story; in fact, it’s not the half of it. The world’s most famous side were once renowned for slipping up in the elimination stages of the global showpiece; while Ireland have their own nightmare knockout experiences, mere mention of “France in 2007” or “Australia in 2003” are enough to make any self-respecting Kiwi flinch. A strong start, and who knows what ghosts of competitions past might emerge...

 

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