Page 24 - Irish Examiner USA

sportsexaminer
24

2019 Can Ireland Win The Rugby

11th,

September World Cup?

| By Jonathan Bowen play Ireland in a quarterfinal.
Wales are the current Six
reland, for the first time ever, is
EXAMINER Irugby side in the world. If this Nations and Grand Slam hold-
now the number 1# ranked
ers. They cannot be ruled out
event took place at any other time
of contention even though they
IRISH in Irish sporting history this lost their last two games to
achievement would promoted
Ireland. Under the manage-
ment of the Irish and British
everywhere. The country would
be organizing ticket tape parade, Lions coach Warren Gatland
the players would be granted the the Welsh will make their way
highest honors the country could through the tournament with-
bestow, it would be one hell of a out a lot of fuss. Wales face
celebration, but things are different Australia and Fiji in their group.
thisyear. I expect Wales to top that
With the Rugby World Cup group with Australia and Fiji to
just over a week away being the face off for 2nd place in the
number #1 ranked rugby team group. If Wales top their group
in the world seems a little less as expected that should line
important. Ireland can poten- them up in a quarterfinal
tially challenge and win the against England or France.
Rugby World Cup. Such is the England are the team who
belief that this could happen, on their day will be the tough-
the country’s # 1 world ranking est team to beat. The problem
seems a little less important and for England is we have no idea
winning the World Cup is what what day that could be?
the people really want to see. England have beaten Ireland
Ireland are only one of sev- twice this year. England didn’t
eral teams that could win the just beat Ireland, on both occa- they are making improve- nist Mike Bowen and myself Semi Final!
World Cup this year. England, sions they handed Ireland quite ments with the development are traveling to Tokyo to So here is to the Irish rugby
Wales and South Africa are also a pounding. England have also of the national team and don’t attend the quarterfinal match team, the newly crowned #1
very serious contenders. This lost to Wales twice this year, be afraid to show your support that Ireland will be playing in. rugby team in the world! Let us
Rugby World Cup has never totally against the odds. So, it for them. So, given we have our jerseys hope and pray that this small
been such an open tournament will be hard to work out what So, this leaves the #1 and our tickets we will be right- country can achieve something
where so many teams could England are capable of? Given ranked rugby team in the ly p***ed if they don’t make the extraordinary! C
win it. they are in the same group as world. Can Ireland win the
The All Blacks are the France and Argentina two World Cup? Well in my opin-
favorites to win the tourna- other teams that are as inconsis- ion, yes, they can. However,
ment and deservedly so. The tent as England, it is going to be they are going to need luck,
All Blacks are the most success- hard to work out whether skill and an unwavering belief
ful sporting team of any code England could play in the final that they can achieve this.
anywhere in the world. This or struggle to get out of their Ireland have had an extraordi-
year however they just don’t group? If England beat France nary 18 months. The won the
seem as untouchable as they and Argentina in their group, Six Nations and Grand Slam
have previously, with a draw at they will more than likely face last year and beat the All
home to South Africa and a loss Australia or Fiji in the quarterfi- Blacks last November in
away to Australia. This leaves nal. The fitness of the English Dublin. They also won their
room for optimism that some- team will a big factor in their first test series against Australia
one else could take their crown chances of winning the World in Australia since 1979. These
from them. Cup. results are why there is a belief
South Africa look like the The USA also has a team that Ireland can win the World
most serious contenders to the competing in the World Cup Cup. What is working against
crown. Under the management this year. The team had a good them is that the team has
of the ex-Munster head coach win last weekend against never got past the quarterfinal
Rassie Erasmus, South Africa Canada. The USA are in the stage of the tournament. With
have been winning consistently same group as England, France the potential of facing either
and they managed to draw with and Argentina. The USA I the All Blacks or South Africa
the All Blacks in New Zealand doubt will be much competi- in a quarterfinal, the team will
earlier this year, a result that is tion for these three heavy- need all the determination and
hard to ignore. They are also weights of the competition, belief they muster to get past
the current holders of the but the USA will not be embar- either of them.
Rugby Championship crown. rassed. They will show some The other reason why I
Watch the Springboks closely, puck and I expect them to win believe Ireland can win the
their opening game is against the match against the other World Cup this year is Paddy
the All Blacks; whoever loses team in their group, Tonga. McCarthy (Publisher of this
that game will more than likely Expect the USA to show that newspaper) and fellow colum-