Ireland better placed than ever for elusive World Cup success

DUBLIN : Having made flattering to deceive an art form in recent Rugby World Cups, Ireland can justifiably say this time really is different when they make the short trip as genuine contenders.

Sound familiar? That was the Reuters preview of Ireland's 2015 World Cup prospects, the last time they travelled as in-form Six Nations champions. The outcome - repeated four years later and so many times before that - was a quarter-final exit.

While a pool with two the world's other top five sides and a likely last eight clash with France or New Zealand raises the risk of even more heartache, this is without doubt the best Irish team to push for a first spot in the semis or beyond.

Andy Farrell's side have won 25 of their last 27 games in a run stretching back to early 2021 that includes wins over each of the world's top 10 sides and recent standout performances against both of their potential quarter-final opponents.

There is also a calm confidence about the camp that captain Johnny Sexton has long put down to Farrell's approach of openly talking about building towards the tournament, in contrast to each of the flyhalf's previous three World Cup experiences.

"I think we've changed our mentality over the years that we can talk about looking forward to it, going and attacking it and not being pressured by having a high ranking or expectations," Sexton said after Sunday's squad announcement.

"We've had expectations on us for the last 18 months and we've lived up to some of it. We're still not where we want to be, we feel there's more in us."

Sexton, who turned 38 last month and will retire after the tournament, remains as crucial as ever to his team's chances.

An injury at flyhalf, where nobody has come close to unseating the Six