IRELAND CAPTAIN PAUL O’Connell believes his team have the potential to win the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Joe Schmidt has enjoyed a fruitful first full year as Ireland’s head coach, guiding his players to Six Nations glory, before picking up a 2-0 win in a two-match series against Argentina.
Ireland ended the 2014 with victories over South Africa, Georgia and Australia in the November internationals, and O’Connell hopes to maintain that momentum in the build-up to the World Cup.
“We certainly have a chance,” he told Sky Sports. “We have shown that we can beat anyone on our day.
“We still don’t have the strength in depth of the southern hemisphere nations, so there are certain things that will have to go our way — but I think we have the potential to win a World Cup.”
O’Connell also paid tribute to coach Schmidt, adding: ”Joe is an excellent coach and an excellent strategist.
“He is a brilliant communicator too — we are all trying to do the same things on the rugby field; but Joe is able to simplify it and able to get players into the right places on the field where they can use their skillset.
“It is brilliant working with him, every meeting and every training session we learn something new — and you could almost be jealous that Leinster had him for so long.
“The Irish set-up under Joe has been incredible and I want to experience as much of that as I can.”
Up Cork at last we beat clare
@Shawn: have to admit I thought momentum would be with Feakle and they’d win this. Delighted for Sars…..great club. I also got the Cushendall game and Ballina football game wrong, so that proves that I’m a poor man’s Ray Ridge, when it comes to the predictions!
@Joe Kennedy: Some finish nice to see a cork side in the final was watching tg4 you better than him he has one percent win record and now he is saying georgia better than ireland lollllllll
@Joe Kennedy: Sars were my gaa banker Joe. Must admit I thought Cushendall and Ballina would win their games too. I’m only human after all.
@Shawn: sure is….rare enough we’ve something to shout for in that final. Gunners will be raging favourites but here’s hoping.
@Shawn: Well Georgia are better than Ireland…… Better at conceding penalties than us. Those clamming for Georgia to replace Italy in the Six nations got their answer today. They concede even more penalties than Ireland and they aren’t fit. Their players were going down with cramp after 50 minutes.
@Ray Ridge: given Cork’s record in Munster and how comprehensively they were beaten by Imokilly, I can’t see how you had them as a banker, but that’s why I’m a poor man’s version of you clearly! :) Ballina caught on penos only in fairmess, but still…..wouldn’t have thought it would even get that far.
@Ray Ridge: Dam, Thomastown caught by Westmeath crowd I just see now too, so another one wrong for me!
@Joe Kennedy: I just thought Feakle might have been happy with their historic Clare win, plus Sars had a point to prove. Would have put Thomastown down for the win there. Huge shock.
@Ray Ridge: Australia have no scrum
@Joe Kennedy: funny waterford not great in the all ireland yet they have a great side in this championship
@Shawn: it’s the only weak part of their game. Ireland have no Scrum, lineout, maul or offloading game.
@Ray Ridge: They do just not shown yet this november ive full faith in ireland you dont become a bad team overnite AF best coach also and we will improve 100 percent
Can’t believe the Sars corner back stayed on the field after the penalty that Feakle were awarded. Disgraceful strike across the head.
Feakle very wasteful.