This week’s Wednesday night rugby panel discussed the decisive victory against the Springboks and looked ahead to Ireland’s chances in next summer’s World Cup.
Gerry Thornley, Irish Times rugby correspondent, spoke about the importance of the victory ahead of the tournament:
“Nobody forecast an Irish win. The second best team had just beaten the best team and were battle-hardened.
“It’s a win that the Irish team really needed. It had been three years since Ireland had beaten a southern hemisphere team, so to go to the World Cup with any kind of credibility they needed it.”
O’Driscoll spoke in glowing terms about Schmidt’s approach, saying that his greatest regret about retiring was not being able to play in the current squad.
“I think that they are capable of great things. This is really different.
“When you see that many people on an injury list and see the other guys come in and do as good job as they did... you’ve got to think a semi final at least.
“Having beaten France in Paris why wouldn’t we feel like we can have Argentina in a quarter final.”
O’Driscoll expressed his admiration for the Schmidt’s discipline and tactical nous:
“From an ability point of view I would say that [2011 World Cup squad] was our best Irish team going to a world Cup. Withthe level of detail that the boys put in now, when you think of those two married together it would have been a vicious combination.”
When asked by a member of the audience whether he would have taken a victory over the All Blacks last year over the last six nations title, O’Driscoll opted for the latter:
“Silverware is silverware. Winning a Six Nation... we’ve done that very little over the last thirty years.”
He also commented on Johnny Sexton’s nomination for World Player of the Year, suggesting that it was certainly a possibility:
“Johnny is in the mix , maybe second to [Brodie Retallick], an outside chance.”
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