‘I wonder: do Ireland think they’re a team?’

WE thought Ireland’s World Cup odyssey couldn’t get any worse; that the nightmare against Namibia was just a blip, but it did get worse on Saturday as Ireland struggled to put a third-tier nation to the sword.

Georgia, ranked 17 in the IRB world table, are so under-resourced that up to a few years ago they had to use old Soviet tractors as scrum machines. They have no professional league and there are only eight rugby pitches in the country. This was also Georgia’s second team after their coach made 11 changes following their 33-3 defeat by Argentina on Tuesday.

It was a surreal night in Bordeaux and one that saw rank outsiders Georgia come within minutes of creating the biggest upset in international rugby when a TMO decision ruled out a possible push-over try.