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Former on field foe tips Ireland to break World Cup hoodoo
A one-time foe of Ireland’s believes that the men in green can finally break their Rugby World Cup hoodoo and make it through to the semi-finals of the 2023 competition.
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Ireland are yet to get beyond a quarter-final in the tournament, and even faced the ignominy of a pool stage exit in 2007 in France. Argentina has played the villain on more than one occasion too, playing a central role in booting Ireland out in 1999, 2007 and 2015.
Now Pumas assistant coach Juan Fernández Lobbe has told The42’s Garry Doyle that he believes Ireland can and should make it through to the final four of the sport’s flagship competition.
“It is not for me to say or analyse what has gone on in the past in Irish rugby but I can tell you what happened to us [Argentina] in 2007 and again in 2015.
“You get a group of players, all clicking, all tuning into the same frequency, all believing in the same goal, all going for the same purpose.
“We had that in those two tournaments, 2007 and 2015.
“Also, we had the rugby Gods allowing the ball to bounce our way. You always need a bit of luck. Maybe Ireland have never had that in a World Cup. Remember 2015? They didn’t have Paul O’Connell, Johnny Sexton, Peter O’Mahony or Sean O’Brien when they played us in the quarters. Luck is a factor.
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“Looking at Ireland now, they are a team full of confidence who are really going in the right direction and who believe in what they are doing.
“A World Cup semi-final? I hope they get there – providing they are not on the same side of the draw as us – because you can see they are a proud rugby nation. People are really behind their team. The effort is there, you can see that. If they continue to believe then one day that gate will open for them but it’ll never be easy because all the other nations want the same thing.”
Ireland play Argentina on Sunday at the Aviva Stadium at 2.15pm.
Ireland: H Keenan (Leinster); R Baloucoune (Ulster), G Ringrose (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster); J Carbery (Munster), C Murray (Munster); A Porter (Leinster), R Kelleher (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), J Ryan (Leinster, capt), C Doris (Leinster), J Van Der Flier (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster).
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Replacements: D Sheehan (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), T O’Toole, (Ulster), T Beirne (Munster), P O’Mahony (Munster), C Casey (Munster), H Byrne (Leinster), K Earls (Munster).
Argentina: E Boffelli; M Carreras, M Moroni, J De La Fuente, L Cinti; S Carreras, T Cubelli; T Gallo, J Montoya (capt), F Gomez Kodela, G Petti, T Lavanini, S Grondona, M Kremer, P Matera.
Replacements: F Bosch, I Calles, E Bello, L Paulos, I Facundo, G Bertranou, N Sanchez, F Lamb.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
41 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
41 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
41 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
41 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
41 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
41 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
41 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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