Would be better if the blazers had the draw a few months before the World cup (like football) so rankings at time of draw would not change hugely the festival kicks off
Seems like the draw was made a long time ago.
All 4 teams at top of betting cant get to the semis. Draw doesnt allow it
ireland will reach a semi final.
Please god youâre right. I wish I could share your unshakable confidence
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That one wasnât as âvitalâ as this one.
Weâll do it.
Number one ranked team in the world, Six Nations, Grand Slams, defeating New Zealand (twice), South Africa and Australia in huge Test Matches - anything other than winning it will be huge failure, youâd have to say.
Coach Schmidt is widely heralded as the best coach in world rugby football. Heâll navigate a quarter final comfortably. Very winnable semi final then. The draw has really been kind to Ireland.
Very few injuries going into it too. All the expectation and pressure is on CJ Stander, Bundee, Jean Kleyn and the lads but theyâll cope comfortably with it.
Same as that.
With the demise of Limerick hurlers, the shambles that is Man U its no surprise youâd take refuge in rugby
Franno on the ball as usual
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This is a thread to document the rugby football World Cup 2019.
It should be a great occasion. Looking forward to seeing some new teams break through to the business end of the competition.
Ireland are the number one ranked side in the world, beating the tournament favourites NZ only a matter of months back - why canât you stick your chest out, sing Irelandâs Call and proclaim we should be aiming to win it.
Youâre not doubting Coach Schmidt, are you?
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Winning a wc must be an unbelievable feeling. Close to winning a lions series one would imagine.
Ireland have lost their two first choice opensides to long terms injuries - Dan Leavy and Sean OâBrien. The lineout captain and best lineout operator in world rugby over the past number of years, Big Dev has been so decimated by injuries over the last 9-10 months that heâs not even at a standard anymore where he can make the squad.
First and second choice outhalves, Jonny Sexton and Joey Carberry have both had injury blighted build ups to the World Cup with major question marks over the fitness of both. Cian Healy, Keith Earls and Robbie Henshaw are all struggling to overcome injuries as well.
I wouldnt be a blind optimist like you Man U fans #olesatthewheel
Itâll be a massive disappointment if Ireland donât win it from here.
Easiest group possible, very winnable quarter final, relatively clean bill of health, top players like Sexton, Earls - itâs all set up to break the glass ceiling and win the rugby football World Cup. Huge opportunity.
They simply have to grasp it.
This isnât true though. Wan of them does. Itâs either or, not both. The rubby lads are dissembling prophylactically.
Do all the other squads have a clean bill of health?
A few injuries here and there but of the tournament favourites, Ireland have lost the most front line players to injury and have had the most injury concerns.
The big New Zealand injury concern, Brodie Retalick is expected to be fit after dislocating his shoulder against South Africa in Wellington two months ago.
Carberry injury was a blow. With a clear run from January Iâd say heâd be very close to starting at ten if not fifteen.
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Ireland appeared to have managed this really badly. Surely their S&C coach will be fired after Irelandâs squad getting decimated by injuries and all the other squads are grand. Theyâll have to do something about this for the next cycle. Maybe some kind of centralised management system so that Coach Joe can control and manage the workload of Irish players?
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