Yes the RWC is already well underway and there have already been some very interesting games with no real shocks but with some narrow escapes!!
Ireland get their campaign underway on Sunday morning against our own Eddie O ‘Sullivan’s USA Eagles, if anybody will know how to through a spanner into Irelands plans it will be Eddie!
I think the result is probably not in doubt but with Ireland poor showing in the warm-up games they really need a very good performance in this game. But with the much publicised 9/11 anniversary it will add spice to the Americans cause and they will not back down.
There has been criticism thrown at Declan about the fact that he still, even after more warm up games than pretty any other major rugby playing nation, he still has to start players that just plain and simply need game time! What people wanted was the full starting team to play together to lead well into the Aussie game next week.
But to me it’s not only about the Aussie game, yes if they do win that game and finish top of the group, the path through the knockout stages is totally different to coming 2nd in the group. But to me there is still a banana skin around the corner…the Italians!
They have stated that the Irish game is the one they are targeting, so much so that they are not even fielding a full side against the Australians! If they lose that game and win against Russia, USA, very doable and they then play Ireland in the last game of the group. This could be a cracking game as they both could have lost one game and won the rest, remember we didn’t exactly win well against them in the Six Nations!
So here to a very good performance and roll onto the Aussies!!
Shane
