Ireland begin their World cup campaign in the early hours of Sunday morning Irish time against the USA with hardly the greatest preparation over the past 6 weeks.
Eddie O Sullivan will no doubt be looking to exploit the injuries and lack of form we have shown when his Eagles side meet the Irish in New Plymouth.
We have been here before with an Irish team-2007 turned into a huge disaster for all concerned and the IRFU have done almost everything possible to avoid a repeat this time around.
Injuries are part and parcel of the game but the lack of spirit or seeming edge to any of Ireland’s play is quite worrying.
This really is the last chance that many of the "Golden generation" will have to play at a major tournament outisde of the six nations and Declan Kidney will need to maximise his playing resources.
The USA should pose a tough challenge but one would hope that Ireland’s superior firepwer along with teamwork should see them through.
We have no chance of beating the Aussies,not after just one pool game-so the Italy game will become the make of break clash.
Italy could be the surprise side of this years tournament and Ireland may struggle if things upto that point have not gone so smooth.
Declan kidney faces an enormous challenge and has selection headaches all over the pitch and will need to tinker with his side to get them going .
Unfortunatly it is hard to see Ireland going much further than the q-finals where they are likely to meet a South Africa side just coming into form after a poor enough by their standards Tri nations.
