Time is now for our golden generation

ABSOLUTELY sensational — and that was just the opening ceremony.

Leaning heavily on Maori culture and protocols, Eden Park was electrified well before New Zealand and Tonga took to the field for the most incredible spectacle I have ever witnessed on a rugby pitch.

As an opening statement from the tournament organisers, it could not have been more striking. Hopefully now, after such an explosive start, the quality of rugby produced by the competing 20 nations will be equally memorable.

Pre-tournament favourites New Zealand offered an early indication they could match the quality of what preceded the game with some outstanding tries but the way their challenge fell away in the second half will have a nation in palpations. Full marks to Tonga for turning this into a real contest.

The contest offered a glimpse of what this New Zealand side is capable of when they get space and quick ball. However not all sides will be as accommodating as Tonga were in that opening 40 minutes.

For some strange reason, New Zealand committed very little numbers to the breakdown but it took Tonga far too long to capitalise on this. When they did, by launching a series of pick and goes through the centre of the ruck, New Zealand were vulnerable.

The impact off the bench from a highly-motivated trio of Ephraim Taukafa, Samiu Vahafolau and especially Alisona Taumalolo, who almost halved Dan Carter in a crunching tackle, lifted all around them. Tonga have now set the tone for their island neighbours Fiji and Samoa who could make an even greater impact over the next few weeks.

But don’t read too much into this. New Zealand will get better and in Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui and Israel Dagg they had quality performers. There were issues surrounding their performance at the breakdown, an area they are so used to physically dominating. With Japan next up Graham Henry has ample opportunity to address them.

The one real worry he must have is that inspirational captain Richie McCaw looked under pressure as he led his side down the tunnel at the start of the game and was strangely subdued. On the rare occasions he under-performs, New Zealand tend not to play well. However that rarely happens two games in a row.

After what feels like the longest build up to a World Cup I can remember, Ireland’s campaign finally starts in New Plymouth tomorrow with Declan Kidney’s men seeking to consign a poor August campaign to the ranks of the irrelevant.

Taking a win over Eddie O’Sullivan’s American outfit as a given, what else do Ireland need to get out of their opening contest? Not surprisingly, given the magnificence of their base camp in the picturesque surrounds of Queenstown, Ireland have arrived in New Plymouth feeling good after a productive week on and off the field.

The target now is to carry that positivity into the game and deliver a performance that sets a very high standard for the rest of the squad and the tournament.

Four years ago Ireland’s ineptitude against lowly Namibia set the tone for the rest of the campaign. The squad managed to put themselves under enormous pressure from the off and never recovered.

It didn’t help either that rivals Argentina beat the hosts France two days earlier in their pool. At least on this occasion it is highly unlikely that Italy, who meet Australia in Ireland’s pool a few hours before the USA game, will throw the cat among the pigeons by beating the Wallabies.

Ireland need to convince themselves, more than anyone, their game is coming together. The unforced handling errors so prevalent in the warm-up games last month must be eradicated and they have to dictate proceedings at the breakdown. A couple of tries from well-constructed phase play would also help put a spring in the step.

This game is about more than just registering a win as it will also dictate the tone of Ireland’s build up to the key Australian contest next Saturday. It would also help if those carrying recent injuries, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe, all come through with a clean bill of health.

Conor Murray’s selection at scrum half caps a remarkable few months and he is clearly getting every opportunity to play himself into the side for that key contest next weekend. The selection of Tony Buckley at loose head is a bit of a bolter but then again the Americans are not noted for their scrummaging prowess and Buckley will be expected to inflict a bit of damage at the breakdown, which is something he badly needs to do.

Should Ireland struggle and fall over the line as they did against Namibia and Georgia in France last time out, then one fears the collective malaise that transfixed some of our finest players in August will not be eradicated in time to make a serious impact in this tournament.

That is why a win alone will prove insufficient tomorrow. Ireland need to hit the ground running and get into their stride quickly.

Kidney, in consultation with his management team and conditioning experts, meticulously planned the last three months in order for that to be achieved. It is imperative therefore after four consecutive defeats that Ireland finally display the physicality, ruthlessness and cutting edge that cut England apart in the Aviva Stadium last March.

As if confirmation was needed that time is running out for some of the greatest players ever to represent Ireland to make a serious impact at a RWC, Ireland have the oldest squad in the tournament, average age 29 years and 34 days. In an interview with me in yesterday’s Irish Examiner World Cup supplement, Brian O’Driscoll spoke about that brief window of opportunity when a team must capitalise on the experience generated over a long period of time. In the context of this tournament, that period has come.