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Ireland to face France, Italy at 2015 Rugby World Cup
IT MAY BE nearly three years away but all eyes are on London this afternoon for the 2015 Rugby World Cup draw. Will Ireland be able to avoid a pool of death?
As always, we’d love you to get in contact. Send us your thoughts by emailing niall@thescore.ie, via Twitter@thescore_ie, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2015 Rugby World Cup draw.
Chances are you’re thinking one of two things right about now: either a) after that photo was taken, how long did it take Lawrence Dallaglio to punch Boris Johnson square in the mush? Or b) how far away is the 2015 Rugby World Cup?
So to answer: a) we don’t know but it seems pretty inevitable and b) 1018 days, give or take a couple of hours.
Thankfully you don’t have to wait that long for the draw. That starts at 3pm.
How does it all it work then? Well, there are four pools in total each of which will contain five countries. There are five bands of teams, some of which are known already, some of which or not. Today, the lovely RWC organisers will decide which teams go into which pools.
In a few minutes’ time, the pools will be drawn in reverse order, starting with band five and down to band one. Simples.
What’s the ideal scenario for Ireland, I hear nobody ask?
We can’t be drawn against teams in the same band as us, so in a perfect world, we’d avoid the best teams in bands one and three — New Zealand and Wales. A group with Australia and Tonga doesn’t seem that appalling really.
Anyway, let’s not worry about that now — we’ve got 1,018 days to work out the ramifications.
We’re underway in the Tate Modern. If I know draws like I know draws, it could take a while before we get to the good stuff.
You’d nearly miss UEFA head honcho Gianni Infantino.
Cliche bingo: Whoever had a blatant rip-off of London 2012 slogan ”Inspire A Generation,” please come to the front and collect your prize. 2015 World Cup chairman Andy Cosslett has just thrown that one out there.
There’s Boris. He opens with a joke about how the game was invented by “burly, mustachioed and mildly inebriated Victorians.” A few wry smiles, but Richie McCaw looks completely confused by the whole thing.
Video time: dramatic music accompanied by a World Cup history highlight reel and buzzwords like “strength” and “unity”. Or something like that. I got bored.
Another video. This time we’re being introduced to the 12 nations who have already qualified, just in case we forgot — or, presumably in case we do at some stage over the next 1,018 days.
DRAW TIME: Here we go. Richie McCaw joins Boris and some other dignitaries on stage.
Here’s band four. Some real teams up next.
Ireland up next. Anyone but Pool A, please and thank you.
So there we have it. Ireland have been drawn to play in Pool D, a mini Six Nations against France, Italy, Americas 1 and Europe 2.
Not the worst by any means. The dubious “Pool of Death” honour goes to Pool A where it will be hosts England against Australia and Wales. Tasty.
This pretty much sums it up:
We’ll leave it at that. I’ll admit, it could have been worse — both the ceremony and Ireland’s pool for 2015. Attempting any sort of more in-depth analysis seems a little bit foolish three years ahead of time.
The only thing that seems likely is that if the format for previous World Cups is continued, Ireland will have to win their pool to avoid a quarter-final against probable Pool C winners New Zealand.
Of course the last time New Zealand were drawn in, and won, Pool C was in 2007. They were beaten in the quarter-finals that year by the Pool D runners-up, France. What’s that they say about lightning striking twice?
Thanks for reading.
‘It’s weeks like this you play rugby for’ – Sexton on Clermont challenge
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