Flying high in The Green House

I CAN’T be sure if you’re getting the full impact back home but there is something special starting to happen over 12,000 miles away.

Ever since that exceptional night in Auckland two weeks ago there has been a growing sense that Ireland can finally begin to exorcise the demons of repeated disappointment and failure at Rugby World Cups and deliver on the quality and excellence that has defined Irish rugby on both the provincial and international front for over a decade.

Yesterday’s vital pool game against Italy offered a stepping stone to greater things or the potential for the greatest party poop of all time. Otago’s impressive new indoor arena was nicknamed ‘The Green House’ long before the massive Irish support base began to roll into town on Friday and Saturday and such was the impact of the Irish fans here, never was a stadium more aptly named. There was just no way Ireland could fail to perform in such an emotionally charged atmosphere and victory has delivered the squad’s minimum goal of reaching a World Cup quarter-final for the first time since 2003 and the fifth in Ireland’s RWC history.