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Ireland number eight says how they plan to face the Haka
Caelan Dorris knows the enormity of what is to come in Paris. While Ireland have had success over New Zealand in recent years, the All Blacks‘ pedigree at Rugby World Cups is practically unmatched.
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With three titles and two of them in succession, they are a team who know how to win when it counts. Something Ireland have struggled with in the showpiece tournament to date.
Losing heavily to New Zealand at the same stage in the 2019 tournament, Dorris acknowledges that there’s something different about this team, having beaten New Zealand in a series away from home and in this very tournament, claiming the scalps of the world champion Springboks.
“It feels like it is a different group. It feels like quite a long time since the last one. Obviously neither of us [he and Sheehan] were there last time. There’s been a lot of experience over the last three or four years with this group. We’ve built a lot of confidence through those experiences, through some pretty big wins – New Zealand last year, New Zealand at home, South Africa.
“It’s been quite a big journey with this group and through the coaches, through our plan, through the players’ ability and our want to get better, there’s a lot of belief that has been built in this last period.
“So, we are drawing on that and not looking back too much further. I am sure some of the more experienced, older guys might take some things going back even longer but the last three or four years has been an unbelievable journey for us and there’s a lot of belief and confidence that has come from that.”
Ireland have perhaps been the best supported team in the World Cup in France, and things back home have been brewing too, with many more fans flooding across in search of a ticket.
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“In these big weeks you draw on some of the emotion, the pride. [I’ve been] talking to a few friends back home in Mayo, seeing how they are behind us and how so many people in the country are behind us. Over here we definitely get a sense of it.
“That is the motivation for us, trying to continue to inspire them and do them proud knowing that so many are coming over to support us. Sometimes you can almost get too emotional, then you bring yourself back into process, focus, detail, focus, going through how we are going to make them proud and how we’re going to get to the next step. It’s always a balance in these big weeks.”
Following impressive wins over South Africa and Scotland, Ireland must now step up for a slightly different challenge, as the All Blacks will be doing their best to make themselves heard with a fiery Haka rendition minutes before kick-off.
“It will be excitement and a lot of nerves. Nerves for me peak a couple of hours out, and as we get to the changing room and out onto the pitch for the warm-up they dissipate a bit. In those few minutes there will be nerves, excitement. Kind of an eagerness to get stuck in.
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“In terms of haka, we will do what we’ve done quite a bit in terms of the 10-metre line, maybe flirting with it a bit. But looking forward to it big time.”
With talisman Johnny Sexton possibly playing his final ever game in an Ireland shirt – should they lose – Dorris was quick to sing his praises.
“Even last week building into Scotland, obviously there was a chance that could be his last ever game; he said that to us as a group. What an unbelievable player and leader he has been for Ireland for so many years.
“I think all the players would agree that the standards he sets raise everyone else’s game. He is almost like having another coach on the pitch. He seems to have like a bird’s eye view, he seems to see everything regardless of where you are.
“He catches every mistake, you can’t get away with anything with him around, which is obviously a good thing for the most part, except when he is shouting at you for those few seconds.
“He definitely brings us to another level, so valuable for the younger guys, for the two of us coming in. The way he prepares for a game, he absolutely loves the game, puts everything into it. The utmost professional.”
Kick-off at the Stade de France is at 21:00 [CET] on Saturday night.
Comments on RugbyPass
Hard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
2 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to comments