Ireland still have a mountain to climb to break last eight duck

Ireland are the undisputed number one Test rugby team in the world right now but rankings and esteem don’t win Rugby World Cups.

For Ireland the failure to get beyond the quarter-finals in any of the preceding nine Rugby World Cup is a cross the current team have been left to bear.

Rugby World Cup quarter-final hoodoo for Ireland

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For all that they have played brilliantly for a very long time, the Rugby World Cup isn’t won months out from the tournament.

Ireland have no way of avoiding one of two very tough quarterfinals being on the stacked side of the Rugby World Cup draw, apart from a group stage exit.

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Group of death

An early departure from the tournament for Ireland is something that seems unthinkable right now but few would have predicted that Japan would get one over on both the Scots and Irish in 2019.

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Ireland’s group is the most perilous in the whole Rugby World Cup with familiar foes Scotland and everybody’s least favourite opponents, the Springboks, lying in wait.

That said the schedule seems kinder to Ireland than it has been to Scotland, who occupy a group with a pair of Rugby superpowers and see their group stage campaign bookended by massive clashes with big men wearing green.

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Springboks lying in wait

Defeat to South Africa in their third match of the Rugby World Cup could leave Ireland teetering when they face Scotland to round off their group stage matches.

All three teams will also need to be wary of Tonga and Romania who will play starkly contrasting games but could both prove banana skins for the big boys.

Ireland would prefer to knock off the world champions and face Scotland for top place in group rather than as a fight to progress to the quarterfinals.

Both teams that progress from the group of death look set for a nightmare quarterfinal scenario.

No easy quarter for Ireland

France are currently the bookmakers favourite but everyone in rugby knows that the All Blacks are always Rugby World Cup favourites.

Unless Italy pull of a remarkable upset to knock out one of the heavy hitters, there is little to choose between the two pathways to the final.

The two quarterfinals involving Pool A and Pool B will likely determine the two teams that play the final, with Pools C and D sporting a considerably weaker look.

Ireland should put faith in their dirt-trackers to put one over on Tonga and Romania, leaving the ‘First Team’ to focus on three high-pressure Tests that they must win.

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