Laureus at the Rugby World Cup: Sport helps to heal a nation
Ireland have a wonderful team on paper based on two very successful and professional provinces. The real question is why they have done a so badly in previous Rugby World Cups, not why they have done well this time!
In the past Ireland have set too much store on the build-up and have peaked too soon - so have other sides. This time it looks like they might have timed it right (as shown by the 15-6 win over Australia).
They have obvious stars, O’Driscoll, the locks, Heaslip and Kearney, but O’Brian is the man who has really set the side alight. He is the genuine article and will be a world star soon.
I called the result before the game in the Backbenchers pub near the Parliament Building. The place went mad.
The Aussies have a wonderful side but there are a few worrying signs. Some of the youngsters look a bit arrogant and changing the skipper on the eve is not cool. Don’t write them off but they will need real leadership.
It all starts in the quarter-finals. Who can win three finals in a row? New Zealand, Australia, South Africa? Take your pick.
Fiji was a potential banana skin and South Africa came through very well. We are on the up.
What a weekend! Ireland’s brilliant 15-6 win over Australia has set the Rugby World Cup alight.
One of the favourites has been taken down for now! And more significantly, because of the way the draw works, it has virtually guaranteed a northern hemisphere team will be in the final which will make for a wonderful north v south battle.
After a few years of disappointing results, at last against Fiji I thought we saw the real South Africa. I rate this one of the best performances of recent times.
I must admit for the first 15 minutes I was thinking ‘here we go again’ as Fiji looked strong and were giving us headaches, but once Gurthro Steenkamp scored the first try in the corner we were off and running.
Laureus at the Rugby World Cup: Sport helps to heal a nation
BY SEAN FITZPATRICK
Laureus Academy Member and legendary All Blacks captain
We started the second series of matches with our first look at Samoa, Georgia, Canada and Russia. And although I expected I would be building up Samoa as a team from whom we might expect a few surprises, it’s actually Canada who get my vote as team of the day.
