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Ex-England international identifies RWC game Ireland 'want to lose'
Former England out-half Stuart Barnes has made an incredible claim about Grand Slam champions Ireland and their upcoming Rugby World Cup campaign which has them pitted against defending champions South Africa in the pool stages. The Irish are due to take on the Springboks in Paris on September 23 and Barnes has suggested it could be best for Andy Farrell’s team to lose that match if the tournament opens 15 days earlier with the All Blacks defeating host nation France.
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Writing in his latest The Times column, Barnes argued that it would be best for Ireland to take on the All Blacks in the quarter-finals rather than the French as he believes it would be an easier World Cup tie for them to negotiate.
If France win their tournament opening match, there would be no such ‘let’s lose’ dilemma for Ireland who are going into the World Cup looking to win all four pool games and qualify on top of Pool B. However, Barnes intriguingly suggested they would be better off losing to the Springboks if the French are beaten in Pool A on opening night.
“The hosts, France, and the All Blacks are the sharks in pool A,” he began. “The defending champions, the Springboks, and the world’s No 1 side, Ireland, loom large in pool B, with the additional presence of Scotland making this group all the more red-toothed. The next world champions will come from one of those two pools.
“France are likely to make a statement on the opening night. Then again, if any side can catch them cold with their own fluid attacking game, it is New Zealand. The Kiwis are inconsistent but they can be mercurial.
“Were New Zealand to win, I wonder whether Andy Farrell would consider – how shall we phrase it – throwing considerably less than the kitchen sink at their mega match with South Africa 15 days later? France would be formidable opponents come a quarter-final; the round that reads like a curse to Irish rugby fans.
“If Ireland lose to the defending champions (as the Springboks did in the pool stage to New Zealand in Japan four years ago), they would then – assuming the All Blacks have beaten France – be set up for a clash against New Zealand on neutral territory. If France win on the opening night, then Ireland would need to beat the Springboks and top the group to avoid the host nation.
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“In recent years, Ireland have scared the bejesus out of the men in black more than any other nation, with five wins from their past eight clashes (including that psychological series win in New Zealand) since their bogey-breaking victory in Chicago in 2016. To win the World Cup, a team have to win the final, not every game.
“There is no need to be macho and accept facing France in a frenzied Parisian knockout game if the evidence indicates that the better route to lifting the trophy is via a last-eight meeting with New Zealand, a side capable of great rugby but who have been horribly twitchy in the Ian Foster era. Let South Africa win the pool and slog it out at the quarter-final stage.
“All this rather rudely discounts Scotland but Ireland are not heading to France to just take part. Gregor Townsend’s team are dangerous but if Farrell’s men are serious contenders (they are) then the odd risk is worth taking.
“It goes against the sporting grain to want to lose a game but it wasn’t Ireland who came up with a pool system, potentially pitting them against the host nation.
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“If France pull off an opening-night victory, everything would become simple for Johnny Sexton’s side. Beat the Springboks and avoid the might of France. Let the Springboks do the dirty work and try to oust them. Whichever way you look at it, New Zealand are the Irish’s quarter-finalists of choice. If they must face France, let it be in the final.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Super Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
41 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
41 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
41 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
10 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
41 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
10 Go to commentsWowee!
10 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to comments