Ireland Rugby World Cup Team
Ireland compete annually in the Six Nations Championship and in the Rugby World Cup where they have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage in all but one competition.
Historically, Ireland have been the weakest of the rugby union of the home nations, with just a single Grand Slam to their name and a regular recipient of the wooden spoon in the Six Nations.
Ireland are in contention to be regarded as the best team in Europe at present, along with France.
After their 2006 match against Australia, Ireland climbed to third in the world on the IRB World Rankings. Despite remaining unbeaten in the end of year Tests, they dropped to fifth in the world rankings, before rising to fourth after their opening 2007 Six Nations victory over Wales. They recently won the 2007 Triple Crown trophy narrowly beating Scotland in Murrayfield, and lost the 2007 Six Nations Championship to France.
Ireland are ranked 5th in the world.
Ireland Rugby World Cup Betting Information
Ireland have reached the quarter- final stage in four of the five world cups but not won any of them.
They have been beaten in the quarter- finals by Australia twice and France twice.
They have played Australia four times in the world cup and not beaten them, but they have lost twice by a single point.
Irish Rugby World Cup Squad |
||
|---|---|---|
| T Bowe | G D’Arcy | S Hogan |
| D Humphreys | G Murphy | B O’Driscoll |
| R O’Gara | E Reddan | P Stringer |
| A Trimble | R Best | S Best |
| S Easterby | J Flannery | J Hayes |
| M Horan | D Leamy | D O’Callaghan |
| P O’Connell | J O’Connor | M O’Kelly |
| D Wallace | ||
Rugby World Cup Pool D - Ireland Matches
| Date | Team A | Team B | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-09-07 21:00 |
France | Argentina | Stade de France, Saint-Denis Referee: Tony Spreadbury |
| 2007-09-09 20:00 |
Ireland | Namibia | Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux Referee: Joël Jutge |
| 2007-09-11 20:00 |
Argentina | Georgia | Stade de Gerland, Lyon Referee: Nigel Owens |
| 2007-09-15 21:00 |
Ireland | Georgia | Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux Referee: Wayne Barnes |
| 2007-09-16 21:00 |
France | Namibia | Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Referee: Alain Rolland |
| 2007-09-21 20:00 |
France | Ireland | Stade de France, Saint-Denis Referee: Chris White |
| 2007-09-22 21:00 |
Argentina | Namibia | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Referee: Stuart Dickinson |
| 2007-09-26 18:00 |
Georgia | Namibia | Stade Félix Bollaert, Lens Referee: Steve Walsh |
| 2007-09-30 15:00 |
France | Georgia | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Referee: Alan Lewis |
| 2007-09-30 17:00 |
Ireland | Argentina | Parc des Princes, Paris Referee: Paul Honiss |