France Rugby World Cup: Earning Grand Slams and even triumphing in New Zealand, propelling Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad to the pinnacle of the official world rankings, marks a monumental achievement unparalleled in the history of Irish rugby. However, the true measure of the current Irish panel’s standing will undoubtedly unfold in the upcoming France Rugby World Cup, commencing this weekend, as they strive to challenge the heavyweight contenders in pursuit of ultimate glory. In all candor, our track record in every RWC 2023 since the inaugural 1987 series held in New Zealand and Spain has been disappointingly lackluster.
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Despite embarking on numerous editions of this competition with high hopes and optimism coursing through our veins, we were swiftly ousted with our heads hanging low. Our most noteworthy endeavor to date has been reaching the quarter-finals, where we encountered a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful battle against Australia on home turf at Lansdowne Road. It stands as the closest we came to causing a major upset and advancing to the latter stages of the France Rugby World Cup competition.
The odds have been stacked against us from the outset, with the tournament’s draw favoring past form from three seasons ago rather than current performance. Ireland faces a daunting challenge, first to secure qualification from the group stages of the France Rugby World Cup and then to progress against a formidable adversary, which will likely be either defending champions New Zealand or the host nation, France, in the quarter-finals.
Rugby World Cup 2023 Ireland’s underwhelming history in the tournament
The current scenario is indeed perplexing, with Andy Farrell’s squad set to kick off their France Rugby World Cup journey against Romania in Bordeaux on Saturday as the world’s top-ranked team. It’s a situation reminiscent of just four years ago when Joe Schmidt’s side also held the coveted top spot in the official global ratings as they stepped onto the field in Yokohama for their opening Rugby World Cup clash, a resounding 27-3 victory over Scotland.
However, that sense of optimism was short-lived as Ireland’s Rugby World Cup campaign suffered a catastrophic setback a week later when they were shockingly defeated 19-12 by the hungry hosts in Shizuoka. This marked a turning point from which they never fully recovered. While Ireland managed to scrape into the quarter-finals for the seventh time in Rugby World Cup history, their campaign was severely compromised, and they were subsequently dispatched 46-14 by an All Blacks team that was later convincingly beaten by England in the semi-finals.
This unfortunate turn of events added another chapter to the recurring narrative of ‘not again’ for Ireland at the France Rugby World Cup, echoing the disappointments of eight previous instances of underachievement since the tournament’s inception in 1987. In the interest of mental preparation for the RWC 2023 challenges ahead, it’s worthwhile to reflect on these historical letdowns, understand how they unfolded, and hope to avoid a similar fate in the upcoming weeks.
Ireland forwards trio ruled out of Romania game for RWC 2023
Ireland’s forwards, Dan Sheehan, Jack Conan, and Dave Kilcoyne, will not be available for their France Rugby World Cup opener against Romania this Saturday. All three are in the final stages of their rehabilitation from injuries, which unfortunately rules them out of the crucial Pool B clash in Bordeaux. Assistant coach Paul O’Connell confirmed this setback, saying A few guys will not be involved at the weekend. Sheehan, the hooker, and Conan, a back row player, have been grappling with foot injuries.
While Munster prop Kilcoyne has been nursing a hamstring issue. Conan sustained his foot problem during a warm-up match against Italy on August 5th, while Sheehan sprained his foot the following week in a victory over England. For more about Ireland rugby World Cup Tickets. O’Connell expressed optimism about Kilcoyne’s recovery, stating, “Dave Kilcoyne is struggling a bit but should be okay for next week.” However, the Irish coaching staff is maintaining a cautious approach regarding their injured players for the Rugby World Cup.
Despite these challenges, O’Connell reported a generally clean bill of health among the squad as they prepare to face the world-ranked 19th side, Romania. The former Ireland second row, who boasts four France Rugby World Cup appearances himself, emphasized that the team would not drastically change their preparation approach for their upcoming pool matches against Romania, Tonga, South Africa, and Scotland. Instead, they aim to evolve and improve while maintaining continuity in their playing style, selection, and team dynamics for RWC 2023.
O’Connell emphasized that they have a strong foundation in terms of knowing each other’s strengths and styles of play, and they aim to build upon that familiarity throughout the tournament. While facing Tier One nations presents a more familiar challenge, the team is prepared to adapt and learn as they embark on their France Rugby World Cup journey, with a focus on diligence and continuous improvement.
Approaching the tournament with a blend of confidence and enjoyment, his primary objective is to contribute effectively to the team’s success. Rugby World Cup fans can buy Rugby World Cup Final Tickets from our website.
Scotland Rugby Player Dave Cherry on rough times in Nice for France Rugby World Cup
Life at Stade Niçois was no walk in the park, with local teams relishing the opportunity to challenge the city slickers. For Jamie Cherry, now 32, this tough environment was instrumental in shaping his rugby journey, eventually leading to a professional contract with Edinburgh and his breakthrough into the national side. Cherry is among the three hookers handpicked by Gregor Townsend for the RWC 2023 tournament, and he’s determined to make a compelling case to be part of Scotland’s match-day 23 for their Pool B opener against South Africa on Sunday.
The team is stationed in Nice for the group stage, evoking a mix of memories, some pleasant and others more tumultuous, for Cherry, who had his share of intense experiences in the south of France, where adherence to the laws of the game wasn’t always strict. Reflecting on his time in Federale Two, Cherry offered an intriguing glimpse into his early days, saying I don’t know how that equates, but there were no touch judges for France Rugby World Cup. He chuckled as he recalled those good old days when confrontations often started with scrums and escalated from there.
The rivalry with the club Nice was particularly intense, and Cherry vividly remembered being warned before his first game in a village, where he was told, that if it kicked off, we were all in. To his surprise, it did kick off, and he found himself at the bottom of a ruck amidst the chaos. Fights were not uncommon, and it was a sink-or-swim situation. Fortunately, Cherry swam, earning the respect of his French teammates and ultimately securing a contract with Edinburgh. While it wasn’t the typical path for a rugby player in his position, Cherry wouldn’t change a thing, as those experiences helped shape him.
At that time, the Scottish Rugby Union had a partnership with Stade Niçois, and Cherry was among several Scottish players who made the move to the French club. However, it was Cherry who thrived, not just on the rugby field but also in his personal life. He met his partner, Olivia, in Nice, and they are now eagerly anticipating the arrival of their first child. Speaking fondly of Nice, Cherry said, “Nice has a special place in my heart. I met my fiancée here, I got engaged here, and now we’re based here for the France Rugby World Cup, so it’s three pretty big things in my life that have happened in Nice.”
Rugby World Cup John Jeffrey believes Scotland currently has the strongest team of all time
John Jeffrey, a former rugby star who won 40 caps for Scotland and played a pivotal role in the 1990 Grand Slam-winning team, made a stirring appearance at the Scots’ grand welcome ceremony in Nice, just off the waterfront. Addressing the current squad, he conveyed his belief that they represent the finest assembly of players Scotland has ever assembled at RWC 2023. In an interview with the PA news agency, Jeffrey expressed his conviction, saying, I think this is the best Scotland team ever.
He pointed to their impressive world ranking, currently at fifth, the highest in the nation’s history. He also highlighted the team’s return to a style of play that embodies traditional Scottish rugby values, which has been a key factor in their success in the France Rugby World Cup. Despite being placed in the challenging group of death alongside Ireland and South Africa, Jeffrey believes Scotland has a genuine opportunity to advance from the group.
Scotland’s RWC 2023 pool features the two highest-ranked teams globally, but Jeffrey maintains that Gregor Townsend’s leadership has elevated the team’s style of play to new heights. He emphasized that the rugby community has been full of praise for the way Scotland approaches the game. Jeffrey acknowledged the challenge of facing the top two teams in the world but expressed confidence in Scotland’s ability to shine as underdogs for the France Rugby World Cup. He noted that on their best days, Scotland can strike fear into any top-tier opponent.
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