RWC 2019 – The Competitors – Ireland

Ranked 3rd in the world, Ireland is a serious contender to win RWC 2019. Having won their pool in the previous two RWC tournaments the men in green are a definite team who have the potential to make history in Japan.

It is fair to ask if this Irish side is the best of all-time? It cannot be answered objectively as it is not possible to accurately compare all teams from all eras. It is a debate of note which is certainly aided by post RWC 2015 results which have seen the Irishmen achieving their first, and second wins over New Zealand, and a series win in Australia.

Ireland’s record in prior RWCs is commendable but falls short of being remarkable. Having won their group in RWC 2011, and 2015 Ireland would be eliminated in the Quarter Finals. The same stage is Ireland’s best result with the men in green yet to reach the Semi Finals.

 

WORLD CUP HISTORY

RWC	FINAL PLACING	RESULTS
1987	Quarter Finalist	Won vs Canada, Tonga Lost vs Australia, Wales
1991	Quarter Finalist	Won vs Japan, Zimbabwe Lost vs Australia, Scotland
1995	Quarter Finalist	Won vs Japan, Wales Lost vs France, New Zealand
1999	Quarter Final Play-off	Won vs Romania, USA Lost vs Argentina, Australia
2003	Quarter Finalist	Won vs Argentina, Namibia, Romania Lost vs Australia, France
2007	Pool Stage	Won vs Georgia, Namibia Lost vs Argentina, France
2011	Quarter Finalist	Won vs Australia, Italy, Russia, USA Lost vs Wales
2015	Quarter Finalist	Won vs Canada, France, Italy, Romania Lost vs Argentina

Overall Record: Played 35, Won 21, Lost 14

 

RWC 2019 SCHEDULE

The factors of being the top seed of the group combined with being in Japan’s group might imply that Ireland would be given a tough schedule. This has not transpired. Instead the Irish will have sufficient preparation time with their only short turn-around being before facing the bottom seed in the pool, Russia.

Ireland begin against their toughest pool opponent, Scotland. The match will be on day three of the tournament and is to take place in the Greater Tokyo region. Six days later Ireland will face the hosts in Shizuoka, 200km to the south.

Games one and two will, in effect, be stage one of the campaign. Stage two will be the two remaining pool fixtures which are to be against the bottom two ranked teams in the group. The first of these will be 320km from Shizuoka and is highly likely to see Ireland’s reserves starting.

For the final match Ireland will face Samoa 570km from Kobe in Fukuoka. The trajectory of southern travel from one match to the next is something many sides have not been afforded. More importantly, the dates mean Ireland will, if desired, approach the match two weeks after facing Japan with their top line-up.

DATE	OPPONENT	VENUE
Sun, Sept 22	Scotland	International Stadium, Yokohama
Sat, Sep 28	Japan	ECOPA Stadium, Shizuoka
Thurs, Oct 03	Russia	Misaki Stadium, Kobe
Sat, Oct 12	Samoa	Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka

 

PREDICTED TRAVELING 31

Forwards: Rory Best (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Niall Scannell (Munster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), John Ryan (Munster), Tadhg Beirne, (Munster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Jean Kleyn (Munster), James Ryan (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

Backs: Luke McGrath (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Joey Carbery (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Rory Scannell (Munster), Andrew Conway (Munster), Keith Earls (Munster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster)

 

PROJECTED MATCH-DAY LINEUP

1 Cian Healy, 2 Rory Best, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Iain Henderson, 5 James Ryan, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 CJ Stander, 9 Conor Murray, 10 Johnathan Sexton, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Gary Ringrose, 14 Keith Earls,  15 Rob Kearney

Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 John Ryan, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Jordan Larmour

Key Back: Conor Murray
Key Forward: James Ryan
Talisman: Tadhg Furlong

 

RWC 2019 PREVIEW

Since RWC 2015 Ireland’s tock has risen remarkably. Coming off a Quarter Final exit against Argentina the Irish responded by defeating South Africa away in June 2016 and then beating New Zealand, and Australia in November.

Further success would come in 2017 with a 38-3 hammering of South Africa in addition to wins over Argentina, England, Fiji, France, Italy, Japan, and the USA. But 2018 was Ireland’s year as the men in green were Grand Slam winners in the Six Nations; they won a series in Australia; and won at home against New Zealand.

In 2019 Ireland fell to England, and Wales though the overall trend is very clear – Ireland are to be considered a contender.

Central to Irish success has been player management both for the test team as well as in the Pro 14. It is common practice to target specific games and rest players in others. The structure of the 6 Nations enables this though at the RWC there are no bye rounds. Ireland’s ability to adjust to this will be crucial in Japan.

The most likely scenario is that Ireland will beat Scotland, Japan, Russia, and Samoa to go undefeated in Pool A. As winners of the group they will be up against the runners-up from Pool B, likely South Africa. The predicted result of that match is a Springboks victory which means Ireland are projected to be eliminated in the Quarter Finals.

 

Week 1 – Italy
Week 2 – Fiji
Week 3 – Japan
Week 4 – England
Week 5 – Namibia
Week 6 – Wales
Week 7 – Samoa
Week 8 – France
Week 9 – South Africa
Week 10 – Georgia
Week 11 – Scotland
Week 12 – Tonga
Week 13 – New Zealand
Week 14 – Ireland
Week 15 – Australia