Granted, we will almost certainly get out of the pool and lose the quarter-final… that is our thing.
But then, our thing used to be losing to the All Blacks and we got that monkey off our back in some style.
That win in Chicago, coupled with the November win over Australia and a solid Six Nations mean that Ireland go into Wednesday’s 2019 Rugby World Cup draw in Kyoto as a top seed.
Joe Schmidt’s men will be in rarified company in the pot, alongside back-to-back World Champions New Zealand, back-to-back Six Nations winners England and perennial World Cup challengers Australia.
We’re big time, baby. But before we buy mink coats and tickets for the final in Yokohama, the draw can still be a little bit sticky for Ireland.
While we cannot get lumbered with the All Blacks, England or the Wallabies, there are still some really excellent teams in the mix.
World Cup rankings decided after the Six Nations https://t.co/sP6HzB1VSi
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) February 5, 2017
For instance, the second seeds include two teams that beat Ireland in 2017 – Scotland and Wales – along with France and the small matter of the giant Springboks.
The third seeds include an unpinned grenade in the shape of our 2015 nemeses, Argentina, along with Japan, Georgia and Italy.
The final two spots in each pool will be made up of as yet undetermined qualifiers, but will most likely include Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Canada, the United States, Uruguay and Romania.
So, knowing what we know, what are the best and worst case scenarios for Ireland?
Best Case Scenario
Scotland: Even allowing for the Gregor Townsend effect, Schmidt would have to prefer our Celtic cousins to any of Wales, France or the bloody Springboks.
Italy: Better the devil you know, no? Conor O’Shea has a job of work on his hands but the most promising generation of Azzurri players are ageing and their two PRO12 teams are in a heap. You do not want the hosts, Georgia are the coming team and Argentina will be dealt with later (in the article, not the tournament. We never deal with them, that is the problem).
Canada: So we drew with them when we first met back in 2000, but it has been going alright since with seven wins from seven.
Namibia: Beaten twice by the Africans in 1991 and scared senseless by them during a dark 2007 tournament, let’s exorcise some demons in the Land of the Rising Sun. Even if they are on a four-game winning streak agains Spain, Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Worst Case Scenario
South Africa: Sure, we manage to beat them when they come to Ireland exhausted at the end of their season and we even defeated them on home turf in Cape Town last summer, but these two-time World Cup winners know how to peak every four years. Last time out they lost to Japan and still ran New Zealand to two points in the semis.
Argentina: Adelaide stands alone. In 2003 Ireland played the Pumas at a World Cup and won 16-15. Apart from that it is a tale of woe: Lens, Parc des Princes and two years ago in Cardiff. We have a lousy record against Argentina at World Cups. Now competing in the Rugby Championship and boasting a Super Rugby side, we need this third seed like we need a hole in the head.
Fiji: Tenth in the world at present and, while they have never beaten Ireland, their 2016 Olympic gold medal may be the boost a passionate rugby nation needs.
Samoa: It is only seven years ago that a Samoan team gave Ireland a real fright at the freshly-minted Aviva. Powerful, fearless team who very nearly beat Scotland in 2015.
