Great expectations - fans feel the time is now for Ireland at Rugby World Cup

Nine times Ireland have travelled to World Cups in hope and expectation but have come up short on each occasion.

They remain the only top-tier nation not to have reached the last four.

Golden generations, good draws, bad draws, injury-jinxes, shock losses and routine exits: Ireland have a complete bingo book of Webb Ellis failures.

Superfan Majella Ryan has seen first-hand the pain of Paris in 2007, the washout in Wellington in 2011 and the Shizuoka sayonara four years ago.

The Nenagh woman needs no lessons in how Ireland have blown it on the big stage, she's got the t-shirts.

And she insists she is able to separate the heart from the head when assessing Ireland’s World Cup chances this time around.

"We’ve got the best prepared team and the best coached team," she tells RTÉ Sport.

"I’m not saying the other coaches were bad but I think Andy Farrell has them peaking at the right time."

Ireland must negotiate a tough pool containing world champions South Africa, an ever-improving Scotland, a Tonga side boosted by a host of ex-All Blacks and Wallabies, and Romania.

Should they finish in the top two then a likely date with hosts France or three-time winners New Zealand is the prize.

"We’ve beaten New Zealand five times now and that fear has gone," adds Ryan, a hardcore rugby tourist, preparing for her fourth Rugby World Cup in addition to the multiple Lions and Munster tours with Rugby Travel Ireland.

"I think if we get past a quarter-final we’ve a really good chance. The other side of the draw is not strong.

"I think that the provinces are more aligned now to the national team and that has helped with cohesion. I’m quietly confident."

In fact, mingling around outside the Aviva Stadium before Ireland’s warm-up match against England in