Obviously, all eyes will be on the New Zealand stars, the South African title holders, and especially on the Blues, in search of a first Webb Ellis Cup in front of their home crowd. But, in more relative anonymity – a remarkable performance considering certain sizes of the team – Ireland is also aiming for the world crown during the Rugby World Cup, which takes place in France (September 8 -October 28). The XV du Trèfle will take their first steps in the competition on Saturday September 9 at the Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux, against Romania (3:30 p.m.).
Since 2019, the Irish have borrowed the “arrow of time” dear to French coach Fabien Galthié and have shaped, year after year, the best possible team to start the World Cup. The players of the green Erin prepared their business well before setting foot in France, as evidenced by this series of thirteen consecutive victories, enhanced by a Six Nations Tournament, Grand Slam mention, won in 2023 with the congratulations of a won over audience.
The Irish giant advances conquering, even if he has gotten into the habit of banging his head against the ceiling in the quarter-finals. In nine World Cups, the XV du Trèfle has reached this stage seven times, without ever going beyond it. “It’s going to sound cliché, but we only focus on the first few games,” third-line wing Tadhg Beirne cautiously explained to the “Off the Ball” podcast in July.
Far from the local excitement, coach Andy Farrell’s men prepared calmly, training for a few days under the sun of the Algarve (Portugal). The opportunity to get used to the hot temperatures that they could find in France and “to put aside the media aspect to concentrate on their objectives”, estimates former Blues third row Serge Betsen.
Not reassuring test matches
The preparation matches did not push the cameras and projectors to focus on the XV du Trèfle either. Unlike their competitors, the Irish did not benchmark themselves against a leader in the Southern Hemisphere, settling for three victories against nations not playing in the same category. First against Italy (33-17), then against the English in free fall (29-10), finally disposing of Samoa in difficulty (17-13). Three successes for three performances not always up to the standard of a team perched at the top of the world rankings.
“The Irish are moving forward a little hidden, we don’t talk much about them,” notes the former third row of the XV of France and consultant for M6 Fulgence Ouedraogo. They may be trying to take the pressure off themselves to prepare something big. » Even more than his teammates, captain Jonathan Sexton appears masked at the World Cup. The Irish magician was forced to stay behind the scenes during the preparation matches, the fault of a suspension in the European Cup final, lost with his Leinster club against La Rochelle.
The 38-year-old fly-half will lead a team armed to win, but face a bumpy route. The XV of Clover will have to escape from a group notably made up of South Africa and Scotland, before a hypothetical duel against France or New Zealand in the quarter-finals. Faced with these teams, Ireland will no longer be able to hide.