Ireland can win the World Cup, declares Ferris

FOUR years ago, the Irish rugby team failed to make it past the group stages of the Rugby World Cup for the first time after telling everyone and anyone that they had what it took to win the tournament.

Such a chastening experience has led to a more circumspect approach to this year’s event in New EZealand. Pronouncements about performances have been few and far between with leading players preferring a softly-softly approach in the run-up.

Until yesterday, that was, when Stephen Ferris assured Guinness Rugby’s latest PR campaign extra column inches by trumpeting the chances of the squad just under 10 weeks before the first game, against the USA in New Plymouth.