Rugby World Cup – Ireland better placed than ever for elusive RWC success
Having done flattery to cheat the art form at the recent Rugby World Cup. Ireland can rightfully say that things are really different this time around as they make the short journey as true contenders. Sounds familiar? It was Reuters’ announcement of Ireland’s prospects for the 2015 RWC, the last time they traveled as Six Nations champions in good form. The result, which was repeated four years later and many times before, was an exit from the quarterfinals.
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While the pairing of the other two best teams in the world and the likely last eight facing France or New Zealand raises the risk of even more heartache, this is without a doubt the best Irish team to fight for first place in the semi-finals or beyond.
Andy Farrell’s side have won 25 of their last 27 consecutive games since the start of 2021, including victories against each of the world’s top 10 teams and recent outstanding performances against both of their potential quarter-final rivals.
A Newfound Confidence: Ireland Gears Up for the Rugby World Cup
There is also a quiet confidence in the camp, which captain Johnny Sexton has long attributed to Farrell’s open approach to preparing for the tournament, in contrast to each of the midfielder’s three previous Rugby World Cup experiences.
I think we’ve changed our mentality over the years and we can talk about looking forward to this match and going and attacking it rather than being pressured by a high ranking or expectations, Sexton said after Sunday’s announcement composition.
“Over the last 18 months, expectations have been placed on us, and we have partially met them. We’re still not where we want to be, we feel like there’s more to us.”
Sexton, who turned 38 last month and will retire after the tournament, remains crucial to his team’s chances. An injury-plagued first half where no one came close to unseating the Six Nations’ all-time leading scorer will be difficult to recover from.
Deep Squad of Ireland Rugby World Cup
Ireland are loaded elsewhere with the depth and versatility needed for seven weeks of attrition, but they will also need Caelan Doris, Dan Sheehan, Harry Ringrose and World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier to remain fit and in top form.
If they do, it will be difficult to find many weaknesses in Farrell’s Ireland. The former England assistant’s project has taken a so-so couple of years to come to fruition, but Ireland are far less predictable in attack while remaining hyper-disciplined, incredibly accurate with their kicking and more pathetic than ever in defense.
The 2023 Grand Slam winners have scored an average of more than four tries per game in the last two Six Nations campaigns, conceding an average of just one try every 80 minutes, a record that none of their rivals have come close to matching.
They can also beat teams in a variety of ways, beating France in their own attacking game in February and two games later beating Group B rivals Scotland thanks to van der Flier’s lineout shot and three front-row props.
Although Ireland didn’t quite show form in the warm-up like their main pool rivals South Africa and looked noticeably rusty on the jetty and lineout, they go to France as the best team in the world for good reason. We want to win the competition, why not? Farrell announced this on Sunday.
Ireland squad all smiles as they jet out to France for Rugby World Cup 2023
The team appeared to be in flying uniform as they boarded their flight to the Tour in France. The Irish rugby team flew to France on Thursday as they continue their preparations for the Rugby World Cup. Ireland will take to the field on September 9 when they take on Romania in their first pool game. They then take on Tonga a week later before back-to-back weekend clashes with South Africa and Scotland.
Before that, the team will have a week of hard training in France, where they will acclimatize to the environment before fighting begins in a little over a week.
The detachment took off from Dublin Airport with the hopes of the nation on their shoulders. World No. 1 fans are hoping Ireland will finally get past the quarter-final canard and possibly go all the way to win the Webb Ellis Trophy.
There is certainly no pressure on the team and many of the players appeared to be in fine form as they boarded the Aer Lingus flight to the Tour in France. They arrived in Tours after a short 1 hour 50 minute flight, boarded the team bus and headed to their base camp in the Center Val de Loire region.
Ireland’s Rugby World Cup Squad: A Tough Selection for Andy Farrell
Head coach Andy Farrell revealed his 33-man Rugby World Cup squad four days ago and spoke of how difficult it was to cut his squad from 39 to 33. We’re lucky to be able to make a dream come true for a wider group of people, for the nation as a whole, so if you can’t be excited about that and the first game against Romania, then we’re doing the wrong job said Farrell.
I think we are in a great place to take this challenge head on. You give them feedback constantly so they know where they are and that the players aren’t stupid. They always have a sense of where they are on their journey. Rugby fans can book Ireland Rugby World Cup Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
I would say that the reason I had a hard time telling these five players the other day is because they made it so easy for me to realize that they are all team players. There is no selfishness in the group. If you look at how everyone else is naming their lineups so early, the reason is they want to get to the 33rd and make sure they push everyone else so there are no hiccups along the way.
“We’ve never had any of this because of the quality of people we have. They are people who work as a team first and foremost, and that makes it difficult to crush their dreams.”
Farrell has chosen 18 forwards and 15 defenders and he is confident that this is the right mix for this team, despite a number of opponents having a 19/14 ratio. Confident? Of course it’s me. We have players who can play in different positions, he said.
Tongan head coach Toutai Kefu has good plan for Ireland Rugby World Cup team
“We are in a difficult situation, but we will throw all our eggs in one basket and aim at Ireland. We can’t play football with them; they will beat us every day of the week. So, we need to come up with some kind of plan, and I think we have one; Everything will be fine”.
Andy Farrell’s men will take stock of Tonga head coach Tutai Kefu’s words in a few weeks when the teams meet at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes. Until then, the former Australian Rugby World Cup winner (1999) is allowed to be a bit optimistic, especially when it comes to beating Ireland, a feat he has managed four out of five times as a player.
A native of Tonga, he grew up in Brisbane playing a variety of sports, but it was his Queensland teenage basketball skills, combined with his athleticism and powerful physique, that saw him become one of the great Australian eights, just behind another Tongan player. natural born colossus, Willie Ofaengau in the green and gold jersey.
The Remarkable Journey of Toutai Kefu: From the Rugby Pitch to a Life of Impact
Kefu’s playing career spanned 60 Tests (52 starts) for the Wallabies, first under Rugby World Cup-winning coach Rod McQueen, then John Connolly and finally Eddie Jones, and ended with a seriously broken shoulder blade after a tackle on the late former All Blacks legend. Jerry Collins.
His association with the Irish teams began in June 1999, when the Australians beat the visitors 46-10 in Brisbane, in a match that featured the debuts of Brian O’Driscoll, Matt Mostyn and the late Tom Tierney respectively. The following week the game was generally tighter, with Ireland outscoring their hosts from three tries (Justin Bishop, Peter Clohessy, Kevin Maggs) to two, but losing 32-26.
Kefu was part of the winning team at Lansdowne Road later that year (23-3) and again at Subiaco Oval in Perth in 2003 (45-16); the only time he was on the losing side was in Dublin (2002), when Ireland midfielder Ronan O’Gara kicked six penalties in an 18-9 win.
Growing up in Brisbane sharpened him as a person. He spoke about this in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. We were one of the first Tongans there. At that time, rugby was a sport for the middle and upper classes, only in private schools.
It was news to people that there were Polynesians running around. What we faced then, you don’t face now. There were only a few of us then. There were some difficulties. You grew a thick skin and you got through it. It affects you, but you move on.
Resilience and Forgiveness: The Inspiring Journey of Toutai Kefu
“They don’t know, they don’t understand us. It was a great opportunity for us to be here, so we put up with this thick skin and moved forward.”
It took him all that resilience on August 16, 2021, when his wife Rachel foiled four teenagers aged 13 to 15 who broke into Kefu’s home in the early morning in Brisbane. Rugby fans can book Tonga Rugby World Cup Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
The attack, using an axe, a cane knife and a machete, left Rachel’s arm cut to the bone and she subsequently suffered nerve damage. Her husband had his stomach cut open, his liver cut, his ribs broken, and he was in surgery for seven hours as doctors fought to save his life.
Their son Joshua required 40 stitches in his back to close a large flap of skin, and one of his daughters, Madi, also suffered a cut on her arm, the other two hid from their attackers: one in the bushes outside, one upstairs: four of the family were trapped operation. After this, Kefu showed remarkable patience and forgiveness.
He said, They are children. They were both 15 years old, there was a 13-year-old child in the car. I have a 15 year old child and a 13 year old child at home. I thought, Well, look at me and Josh, we could overtake these guys. We didn’t think we’d be cut like that. But no one died, we are still alive. These children… They were brought up differently… I feel sorry for them. They will not have the same life as my children. We should pray for them.
Kefu’s Coaching Journey and Ambitions for Tonga at the Rugby World Cup
Kefu’s coaching career began with the Queensland national team, where he served as assistant coach for Tonga at the 2011 Rugby World Cup before becoming head coach in 2016, leading his country of birth to the 2019 and 2023 global finals.
While he will be without controversial former Wallabies Israel Folau and their top Rugby World Cup scorer, ex-Leicester Tigers and Stade Français striker Telus Veainu, both injured, Kefu could call on a team of former All Blacks players to help out, brilliant Charles Piutau.
Who once played for Ulster, Vaea Fifita, former Munster center Malakai Fekitoa, scrum-half Augustine Pulu and, when he finishes his suspension, George Moala. Kefu is a man with a plan, the essence of which will be revealed when they take to the field in their first game of the tournament in Nantes in a couple of weeks.
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