Wales can win World Cup, says O’Connell

PAUL O’CONNELL believes Wales can win the World Cup and would like to see Ireland’s conquerors bring home the William Webb Ellis trophy.

O’Connell was one of a number of the Irish World Cup party who returned to Shannon Airport yesterday afternoon, more than happy to see his partner Emily and 15-month-old son Paddy. And even though it’s three days since the loss to Wales, O’Connell struggled to conceal his disappointment at the way the tournament worked out for Ireland, a sentiment also keenly expressed by Conor Murray and Keith Earls.

“The reaction of people has made it harder because they have been so nice about it,” he admitted.