There are 247 days until Ireland's first game of the Rugby World Cup and expectations are high.
This is unlike 2007 though. This time it feels like there's real substance to those expectations. A lot of that comes down to the assuredness this team has, due in large part to Joe Schmidt.
Brian O'Driscoll certainly has belief in this Irish team, even without his presence. In an interview with Sport360.com, he was extremely positive about their chances.
I definitely think we can get to a semi- final, we can absolutely do that. You don’t think about trying to win the World Cup when you start out, just about getting out of your group, hopefully as the number one seed and probably the easier draw in the quarter-final. Once you’re into a semi-final, you’re only one game away from a World Cup final.
When you break it down into those small compartments, why wouldn’t it be achievable, if they can put together some of the form they’ve shown over the last year? Consistency is the main thing because that’s been our downfall over the years. I think we’ll be better equipped coming into this World Cup, providing we can look after a couple of our really key players.
Picture credit: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE
