THE LONG-TERM forecast for the World Cup quarter-finals has had Ireland meeting South Africa in Tokyo on 20 October.
That possibility is all the more likely after the Springboks lost 23-13 to New Zealand in their Pool B opener in Yokohama, leaving Rassie Erasmus’ men all but certain to advance from the group as runners-up, ensuring they are in line to face the winners of Pool A.
In most people’s eyes, tomorrow’s clash between Ireland and Scotland will be the key factor in deciding who tops Pool A, although hosts Japan and Samoa will have some ideas about upsetting that thinking.
However, if Ireland can overcome the Scots tomorrow, it leaves them in control of the group and on a collision course with the Boks.
With former Munster boss Erasmus, his former Munster defence coach Jacques Nienaber, his former Munster S&C specialist Aled Walters, and his former Munster backs and attack coach Felix Jones now all involved in the Boks set-up, a match-up with Ireland would have plenty of intrigue.
The fear for Ireland is that the Boks would have detailed knowledge of their set-up, their players and their coaching staff’s ideas, although Erasmus played that down after the defeat to the All Blacks.
“We’ve got an important game against Italy along the way, we’ve got Canada and Namibia also but Italy, in the last three years, we’ve had slippery games against them so I might mention them before we start talking about the quarter-finals,” said Erasmus.
“This result puts us under some pressure. We would have loved to win to have got some momentum going to the quarter-finals, but I tell you – Scotland, Ireland, Wales… there are so many teams that can currently do well on the day.
“Looking at Wales and England [in the World Cup warm-ups], on two consecutive weekends they smashed each other and even New Zealand and Australia, on two consecutive weekends the score went from 40 points one way to 40 points the other.
“So, to answer you, I wouldn’t prefer Ireland or Scotland.
“Gregor is a great coach, Joe is a great coach. Obviously, we know the Irish players really well but obviously they know us as well so I’m not sure we’d have an advantage in that regard.”
The All Blacks’ impressive start to their back-to-back World Cup title defence underlines their status as favourites.
Every team that has won a World Cup has enjoyed victory in all of their fixtures along the way, meaning the All Blacks have made the perfect start to their bid for a three-peat.
While Erasmus sees Steve Hansen’s side as favourites, he suggested that there are other teams in this World Cup who are very capable of challenging them.
“I think people must remember that we are the number four-ranked team in the world, so I think at this stage we are not the benchmark to compare teams with,” said Erasmus.
“When you look at the likes of England, Ireland and Wales; I think New Zealand will have some stiff competition to get to the final still.
“There are teams who can handle their kicking game, specific things they do and might handle it a little better than we did on the day. We’ve played them now six times in the last two years, so we know each other well.
“They are definitely the favourites for the World Cup and they always have been, we’ve never had a doubt.
“I just feel that we’re creeping a little bit closer to challenging them, but they will have different challenges against teams like England, Ireland and Wales, who bring different threats to the party.
“We guarantee some things, but they handled our maul very well today, they handled our scrum well, our kicking game well.
“You play teams like Wales and England and there’s a totally different strength there. By all means, they’re the favourites but they will have different tactical challenges against the Northern Hemisphere teams.”
Both the Dublin footballers and hurlers are arrogant and seem to display little or no respect for other teams. The funny thing is, they have won f**k all and are disliked universally throughout the land for their attitude. Kerry will win, as always…obviously. Duh!
That’s just Dubs in general. They can’t help it. You’d nearly feel sorry for ‘em
Your basing this opinion on previous Dublin teams,who believed their media hype,this team doesnt have that arrogance and youl see it when they play Kerry on Sunday.Remember everyone said Tyrone would wipe the floor with Dublin and Donegals defence would be too much oh and not to forget the fact that Kildare had already won the all Ireland according to some parts of the media.So you cant write the dubs off just yet.
And as for saying all dub people are arrogant,its like me saying all non dubs are uneducated farmers…not true of course.
Yes, whereas the footballers and hurlers from all other counties are demure and chivalrous to a man. What a pile of prejudiced sh!te.
Well yes, they are actually…compare Kilkenny senior hurlers to Dublin hurlers. One team have won it all yet remain humble and respectful, the other team…well yeah, just Dublin being Dublin
You really believe the Dublin hurlers disrepect possibly the greatest hurling team ever to grace a park? You’re more twisted in your Dub hatred than I first thought.
Dublin – “We don’t really give a damn about anyone else” Good man Dotsy )))
dublin play and act like every other team in the country yous all say we believe in the hype ,dont we all if a county’s doin well they get mega press and believe in the hype its not just dublin
(((((((((((((Well yes, they are actually…compare Kilkenny senior hurlers to Dublin hurlers. One team have won it all yet remain humble and respectful, the other team…well yeah, just Dublin being Dublin)))))))))))) burnt toast
just remember we beat kilkenny twice in the league almost beat them in the leinster final in which we played fair while kilkenny fouled us everytime vwe got the ball and if we had beaten tip we would have given kilkenny a hell of a game and may well have beaten them
also we have a young team takin out the top teams in ireland all through the year of course some of it will get to the players
dublin of course!
of course ? lol
ROFL
I’m a dub living in the country and the abuse I’m getting over my Dublin flag is unreal!! I am by no means arrogant, just a fan. Really hope the lads do it, true blue forever…..
Haters, twisted haters.
Salt of the earth !
Head says Kerry, heart says Dublin. Up the Dubs!
I commented after the Dublin v Kildare game that I didn’t think either team would win the All Ireland. Given my record to date, you would be well advised to bet on the Dubs to win!
i think the pie chart should have been the ‘standard’ shades of blue colours…
My Dub flag is flying high in Langerland……… Cork people hate everyone other than themselves…….. Football to win after the donegal fiasco but sam is going to the DUBS
burnt toast give example of arrogance please
The ad for McDonalds … ” ‘You’re not in Longford now, Flynn’,” and “Don’t be stupid. It wrecks the cheese.” … Dubs know everything, of course!!
;)
@Alan. Have you ever reheated a big mac in the microwave?
Course not! It wrecks the cheese! … Doh!
Hm where to start, oh yeah… the hurling team pre-booking a bar in Dublin to celebrate their anticipated win against Kilkenny…who of course trashed them. Is that arrogance or gross stupidity, cringe :(
It’s called contingency, toast, having a plan for all eventualities. But you’re obviously coiled so tightly with apopectic hatred for all things Dublin that you’re ready to take every little detail and blow it out of all proportion.
hahaha oh that’s what it is called is it, funny how no other GAA team in the history of the game have had such a premature contingency plan blow up in their face lol Good man yourself, anymore jokes ;)
Read this:
http://joe.ie/gaa/gaa-news/the-pre-emptive-dublin-hurlers-party-plans-pr-0013661-1
Think you’ll find it was the Bar and not the team who jumped the gun.
Your imminent apology is accepted, toast.
No, donl;t be silly…it was the team and that is well known. No good getting your PR boys to spin a story blaming the bar. Have they booked the Shelbourne for Sundays celebrations yet I wonder, will you be there ? ))
Galvin holds key
Dublin haven’t had a great football team since the 70′s. They have Alan Brogan and ….????. Would Alan Brogan make the Kerry team, maybe, maybe not. I don’t like to see Kerry win but i’d say they’ll walk this one, win by 10 points. The cheap Dublin players always hype up Dublin in the campaign and their fans buy in to it every time.
Tony, the Dubs have Alan Brogan and reigning Footballer of the Year Bernard Brogan too… Read a newspaper, Pal…
Up the Dubs ;)
Oh wow, and how many Brogan’s have Kerry got ? Stop reading your tabloid papers ‘pal’ ;)
wrong tony, the media always hype up Dublin, players say no different to players from other counties and the genuine fans know exactly how good or bad the team is so take what’s in the papers with a pinch of salt.. I’m hoping Dublin win but not expecting it..
Correct on all counts Peter.
Who gives a flying f**k
I couldn’t care less.
Got any spare tickets?
Galvin to win it from the bench….
Gooch to be unstoppable, get man of the match and player of the year. You heard it here first.
You would swear life depended on this sport. Its a few guys running around a pitch. Utter boring. I’d rather sit on the toilet than sit and watch this match or any match for that matter.
I’ll be looking for a pub that has no television, thank you very much.
I take it the glass in your picture is half empty?
Yet you scrolled through all these comments…
Who cares about bog-ball, horrible primitive sport loved by lads with thick heads, and lasses with think ankles… Man Utd v Chelsea, 4pm Sunday, yes please!
My heart says Dublin……head says Kerry. :(
I’m so glad Dublin won! Eat your words haters :)
Dublin have a huge advantage playing at home in their usual championship stadium in front of what will probably be over 70% Dublin supporters.
No way , croker is kerrys home stadium , up Kerry
Dublin defensive system will give Kerry half back line too much space, Kerry will score more. So Dublin must attack, reducing their defence meaning Kerry will score more. Galvin is there just in case. I think! Hope it’s a good game anyhoo