The luck of the Irish? No, it's all hard work and a great work ethos. A RWC special...

So can this be the Rugby World Cup where Ireland finally come good and win? Well that's the million dollar question, isn't it....

The Irish, playing under head coach Joe schmid, have become a force to be reckoned with on the world stage. He's brought in a style of play which although is incredibly predictable, is incredibly effective. Zero risk, zero fuss, hard work and wearing teams down.

Check out the video by my mate, SQUIDGERUGBY, who covers this in more detail.

It's no big shock that if your team possess 2 of the greatest players (in thier positions), then you obviously focus your game plan on those 2 player. That's not to say Ireland are lacking in quality in other areas, but fly-half Jonathan Sexton and scrum-half Connor Murray are outstanding and can control games like very few.

(Murray & Sexton)

Connor Murray is so good, that SQUIDGERUGBY has even made a video/player profile on him

SO HOW WILL THEY GET ON?

I can't see Ireland having any problems in winning this Pool. They've got too much firepower for the likes of Russia and Scotland and too much structure for Japan and Samoa.

I predict 4 wins from 4 and a safe path to the quarterfinals. Japan might cause an upset in the pool stages, but I can't see that coming against Ireland.

This leaves Ireland with the possibility of facing a very strong South African side, if the other pool matches play out as expected. The QF between these two will be, IMO, incredibly close. I think that if everything goes well and Ireland stick to their plans, they could win a very tough match. If Ireland fail to beat the Boks, then I can't see anyone else beating SA.

Unfortunately, this is where I see Ireland heading home. They will have won a lot of respect and played their hearts out, but I can't see them progressing beyond the quarterfinals.

Fans of Irish rugby will be all too familiar with being eliminates at the QFs. Ireland have appeared in every RWC and have reached the quarter-finals seven times, but have never progressed beyond them:

• 1987: Eliminated in quarter finals.
• 1991: Eliminated in quarter finals.
• 1995: Eliminated in quarter finals.
• 1999: Eliminated in quarter finals.
• 2003: Eliminated in quarter finals.
• 2007: Eliminated in the pool stages.
• 2011: Eliminated in quarter finals.
• 2015: Eliminated in quarter finals.

There is just ONE spot left in this RWC sweepstake. To join simply send 4 steem to me (@welshstacker) and ill sort the rest. Teams will be drawn live on my NEW discord channel, once this final spot has been taken.