Ireland is among 20 countries meeting in New Zealand to compete in the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC), taking place from 9 September to 23 October.
Ireland’s 30-man squads for the tournament are already in the country in preparation for their first game. In Pool C, Ireland’s first match is against the USA in New Plymouth on Monday 11 September.
Irish fans will have high hopes for Brian O’Driscoll’s boys in green, despite the fact that Ireland have never made it beyond the quarter-final stage. But the squad hopes to rewrite history this time round.
“Along with the likes of no-nonsense second row Paul O’Connell, Ireland have had the personnel to be there or thereabouts in the Six Nations in recent years,” says the official RWC website.
“Rugby World Cups, however, have been a different matter. In 2007 Ireland failed to progress from an admittedly strong group featuring eventual semi-finalists Argentina and France, and in 2003 the Irish were comprehensively beaten by the French in the quarter-finals.”
The site continues: “Their greatest showing to date was in 1991 when they had Australia on the rack with seconds to go in one of the most exciting finishes in RWC history. Flanker Gordon Hamilton scored to send the Lansdowne Road crowd into raptures, only for Michael Lynagh to regain the lead for the eventual world champions.”
Meanwhile, win or lose, New Zealand will surely come out celebrating at the end of competition.
While the All Blacks hope to end their 24-year wait for a second RWC win, the nation’s economy will surely experience a boon during the tournament’s six weeks.
Moreover, a number of Kiwi schoolchildren will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience, with nearly 150 ball boys and girls, hand-picked by the country’s 12 provincial unions for their experience on the sidelines, playing an important role in the tournament.
As for who gets the top job of sideline duty at the final? According to the organisers: “Form will determine who makes the final selection, so you can bet all the ball kids will be working hard at every match they run out for in the hope of earning a spot on the roster for the big match on 23 October.”
Ireland squad for RWC 2011 (subject to approval): Forwards: Rory Best, Tony Buckley, Tom Court, Sean Cronin, Leo Cullen, Stephen Ferris, Jerry Flannery, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Denis Leamy, Sean O'Brien, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan,; Backs: Tommy Bowe, Isaac Boss, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Geordan Murphy, Conor Murray, Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Ronan O'Gara, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace.
