France the Irish pundits’ choice

THE waiting is over. The sixth Rugby World Cup kicked off last night, with 20 teams competing for the coveted William Webb Ellis trophy.

While more than 20 teams will do battle in 48 matches over the next six weeks, only a few are given a real chance of reaching the final and some well-known Irish personalities will be following the action closely.

Although New Zealand are strong favourites to claim their second World Cup after their success in the inaugural competition in 1987, our four Irish fans who know their rugby are tipping France to emerge triumphant in the final in Paris on October 20.

As for Ireland’s prospects, there is a general consensus that Brian O’Driscoll and his team will progress from Pool D to the quarter-finals, but perhaps not much further.

AN avid rugby fan and regular attendant at Lansdowne Road, Ray D’Arcy’s enjoyment of the Rugby World Cup risks being spoilt by his concerns about Ireland’s chances.

“I’m worried about the team. I know lots of commentators say we don’t raise our game for friendlies but we looked very lack-lustre and all over the place in recent matches against Italy and Scotland,” he said.

D’Arcy claims he wasn’t reassured after watching a TV interview with coach Eddie O’Sullivan this week.

“He didn’t look like a confident man. I hope I’m wrong,” said the radio presenter. “Three or four months ago I was full of enthusiasm about our chances, but now I’m not so sure.”

D’Arcy also points to Ireland’s unerring ability to “cock it up”, citing the last-minute concession of a match-winning try to France in Croke Park earlier this year. So the Today FM presenter believes a quarter-final place will represent a good performance by O’Driscoll’s men.

“Ideally, we’ll top the group and avoid New Zealand, which would be brilliant as that would give us a real chance of getting into a semi-final,” he observed. In the absence of Ireland lifting the Webb Ellis trophy, D’Arcy predicts with some confidence that France “look particularly good”.

D’Arcy’s show commitments and recent parenthood means he will be watching the World Cup from the couch of his living room. “My biggest worry is actually that I’ll run out of beer and crisps,” he joked.

TV3 news reporter Laura Ryan is the envy of many of her friends as the passionate rugby fan is being paid to cover the Rugby World Cup.

The 31-year-old Limerick native was in Paris for the official opening ceremony last night and had the opportunity to speak to former World Cup stars such as England’s Martin Johnson, New Zealand’s Zinzan Brooke and France’s Philippe Sella before the France v Argentina game.

“It was fantastic to meet such legendary figures in rugby. There’s been an incredible buzz in Paris over the last 24 hours since they launched a giant rugby ball in the middle of the Eiffel Tower. French people really believe they are going to win the World Cup just like when they hosted the soccer in 1998,” says Ryan.

Coming from Dooradoyle, she couldn’t be anything but a keen rugby follower and she has strongly held views about Ireland’s chances.

“It’s dreadful that one of the top six rugby nations in the world will be eliminated at the group stage. I think that’s really unfair,” says Ryan.

However, she remains confident that Ireland will beat Argentina to get out of their pool and is cautiously optimistic that they can overcome France to get an easier quarter-final draw.

“I believe we’ve a good chance of beating France as we only lost narrowly to them in Croke Park. If we top our pool, which isn’t unrealistic, we’d probably meet Italy with a potential semi-final against South Africa.”

Ryan is tipping France to win the competition rather than the highly fancied All Blacks. “It’s been 20 years since New Zealand last won, even though they’ve been favourites in almost every World Cup. I think the host factor is important which is why I think France will win it.”

AS a native of Cork city, Joe O’Shea confesses that his true sporting love is, unsurprisingly, hurling and professes to be no real expert on matters relating to the oval ball.

However, the RTÉ presenter is excited about the forthcoming Rugby World Cup and reckons Ireland has its best team in a generation, if not ever.

“Rugby is something I’ve got into in recent years through friends, especially following the fortunes of Munster, and I’ve come to like it more and more and appreciate it as a sport.”

Despite a tough draw in the “Group of Death” he remains upbeat about Ireland’s chances of progress. “I really think we can aspire to getting to a semi-final but it does probably mean having to overcome both France and Argentina in the group matches.”

His biggest concern remains the threat of injury to some of Ireland’s key players like Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara or Paul O’Connell.

“Hopefully, Brian will last longer than he did in the last Lions test but it is a worry as we don’t have the in-depth squad like the All Blacks.”

Following his recent appearance on Charity You’re A Star, he is gearing up for the return of Seoige & O’Shea on October 1 but plans to catch most of the games on TV.

O’Shea selects France as likely champions. “They’ve been building up to this tournament very impressively as they seem to have been totally focused on the World Cup for the past four seasons.” Having regularly travelled abroad to support the Irish soccer team, O’Shea sympathises with fans who plan to stay for the duration of Ireland’s involvement in the World Cup. “They could be there for six weeks. The World Cup is lasting almost half the length of the Second World War,” he quipped.

IVAN Yates is looking forward to the Rugby World Cup for both personal and professional reasons.

It should be a bumper time for the former Fine Gael TD, who is managing director of Celtic Bookmakers, with more than 50 Irish outlets.

“It is one of the biggest betting events of 2007 and there is a lot of interest out there among punters,” says Yates, who is reasonably confident that Ireland will advance to the quarter-finals, although that might be the extent of their campaign.

“Ireland should dispense with Argentina but I fancy France to top their group,” observed Yates.

Ireland are priced at 11/10 to be knocked out in the quarter-final as he can’t see them beating New Zealand. Ireland’s odds of 28/1 to win the cup reflect his personal view of that likelihood. “I just don’t see how they have any chance of doing that,” said Yates.

Despite quoting the All Blacks as overwhelming favourites, Yates has a sneaking feeling the hosts will prevail.

“It’s hard to predict the effect of a team having to play seven or eight games and the effect of injuries. My own strong feeling is that France can do it. Everything is going well for them. If the French are ever going to win the World Cup, this will be their chance,” he said.