Ireland set course on new
Eliminated four times in the quarter-finals, the men from the Emerald Isle plan to shake off their jinx in 2007.
Lens, October 1999. Ireland crash out to Argentina (24-28) in a quarter-final play-off. It was the only time in five Rugby World Cups the men in green had not been shown the exit door in the quarter-finals. Their last appearance finished with a stinging 43-21 defeat at the hands of France in 2003. Since then, iconic hooker and captain Keith Wood has retired but Ireland have continued to score points off the international heavyweights thanks to their fighting spirit and undoubted handling skills. With their jewel in the crown, irrepressible centre Brian O’Driscoll leading the charge, the Irish came close to winning the 2003 and 2004 Six Nations tournaments, consoling themselves with a Triple Crown triumph over the British unions in 2004, their first since 1949. Despite a lackluster 2005 campaign the Irish have only one idea in their heads, and that is to breach the RWC top quartet in 2007.
Colours: |
Green jersey, white shorts, green socks |
Emblem: |
3 leaf Shamrock |
National anthem: |
Ireland's Call (reuniting the Republic and Northern Ireland) Amhán Na bhFiann or Soldiers Song, the Republic's anthem, sung at matches in Dublin |
IRB world ranking (2006/07): |
5th |
Rugby World Cup record: |
Quarter-finalists 1987, 1991, 1995, 2003 Eliminated in quarter-final play-off 1999
Scored 610 points, conceded 446 |
Head coach: |
Eddie O'Sullivan |
Squad Member List: |
Neil Best, Rory Best, Simon Best, Isaac Boss, Brian Carney, Gordon Matthew D`Arcy, Girvan Dempsey, Gavin Duffy, Simon Easterby, Stephen Ferris, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Denis Hickie, Marcus Horan, Shane Horgan, Denis Leamy, Geordan Murphy, Donncha O`Callaghan, Paul O`Connell, Brian O`Driscoll,Ronan O`Gara, Malcolm O`Kelly, Alan Quinlan, Eoin Reddan, Frank Sheahan, Peter Stringer, Andrew Young, Paddy Wallace, David Wallace, Bryan Young, |
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