Ireland a good bet for RWC 2015

NOW it can be told — Ireland is one of only four countries that can win the World Cup in England in 2015.

Indeed, only four of the 20 teams participating at the 2011 tournament could possibly have carried off the Webb Ellis Cup — New Zealand, Australia, Scotland or Fiji. How come? Because they were the losing quarter-finalists at the 2007 tournament in France.

Remarkably, the last four winners of the RWC were defeated at the quarter-final stage of the previous tournament.

Check it out.

2011 winner: New Zealand lost in the 2007 quarter-finals to France.

2007 winner: South Africa, who in 2003 lost their quarter-final to New Zealand.

2003 winner: England, who in 1999 lost their quarter-final to South Africa

1999 winner: Australia, who in 1995 lost at the quarter-final stage to England.

The formula didn’t apply in 1995 because winners South Africa hadn’t participated in the first two RWCs. So if you want an early bet on for 2015 in England, you know the winner will be one of this year’s losing quarter-finalists — Argentina, England, South Africa or Ireland. You heard it here first.