Ronan O'Gara: Ireland possess the most cherished trait of all – they’ve forgotten how to lose

Ireland’s injury profile and fixture schedule could hardly have worked better.

FORGOTTEN HOW TO LOSE: Irish supporters cheer their team after the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

AS delirious as the whole thing was, in real terms isn’t it worth discussing the actual implications and consequences of Ireland’s World Cup win over South Africa in Paris?

Does it make Ireland more likely to win the World Cup? Probably not. Of course, it sets them on a different path to France in terms of quarter-final match-ups, but are the learnings from the tournament’s best game more valuable to Ireland or South Africa? I always felt, in advance, that whoever extracted more gains from the game would be better set to win the World Cup. That isn’t always the victor.