Duncan Casey: Whisper it, but Ireland's lineout issues aren't new

The first quarter in Paris was the stuff of nightmares for Ireland's Ronan Kelleher, but he deserves a huge amount of credit for keeping his head and getting back on track.

BIG OBSTACLE: Ronan Kelleher of Ireland throws the ball into a lineout during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match against South Africa at Stade de France. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

I'm sure you'd have been double-quick to remind me if I was wrong, so one has to put it out there that someone predicted an Ireland win by between three and five points over South Africa...

The game was exactly the kind of ferocious, tit-for-tat, edge-of-your-seat contest you'd expect between two of the primary contenders to win this competition outright. While both showed plenty of what is needed to win a World Cup, they also highlighted some things you can’t possibly do without - a functioning lineout, and a proper goal kicker.