Rob Kearney: Video nasties will keep Ireland honest

Rob Kearney has revealed how the Ireland squad faced up to the ghosts of Ireland’s World Cup past to remind them of the dangers of underestimating so-called minnows.

Ireland’s Pool D campaign kicks off in the Millennium Stadium this afternoon (2:30pm) against Canada, ranked 18 in the World Rugby rankings and the tournament’s third-lowest rated team.

The bookmakers have Joe Schmidt’s side as 1/500 certainties to open up with victory against a team sprinkled with amateurs but Ireland have faced similar opposition in the past and not enjoyed the experience, particularly at the 2007 World Cup when both Namibia and Georgia gave them a real scare.