Those Ireland RWC exits in full
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You may be hearing that Ireland has never won a knockout match in a Rugby World Cup. There are two reasons for this. First of all it’s true, and it’s also some handy piece of straw clutching ahead of this weekend’s Quarter Final where Ireland are clearly the superior side.
So let’s look at the range of exits they have had in the past.
1987
On a bleak Wellington wintery Monday afternoon Wales beat Ireland 13-6 in a pool game in one of the most forgettable games of all time.
That sent Ireland into the bad side of the knockout draw; they travelled to Sydney where they were beaten 33-15 by the hosts in front of a crowd of under 15.000.
1991
Again Ireland finished second in their pool; this time thanks to Scotland. And again, that resulted in a Quarter final against Australia.
But out of all the World Cup exits, this was the closest. They led the eventual champions with time up on the clock, but a try to Michael Lynagh sealed it for the Wallabies.
1995
Ireland once again made the quarters, thanks to their 24-23 squeaky win over Wales. They had earlier welcomed Jonah Lomu to world rugby. Their reward was a match against France where they were smashed 36-12.
1999
This was the weird World Cup that had 5 pools leading to a repechage midweek thing which will hopefully never be replicated. Ireland lost to Australia in pool play before losing to Argentina 28 – 24 at repechage time in a match that featured one try.
2003
In pool play Ireland lost to Australia by a point (Gregan with the drop goal) and beat Argentina by a point. In the quarters they were smashed by France.
2007
Beating Georgia 14-10 was probably the highlight for Ireland at this edition. France beat them 26 – 3, and Argentina won 30 – 15. They were hyped up before that weird World Cup too. Out at group stage
2011
Remember how we all laughed when Ireland beat Australia 15-6 in a tryless encounter before a raucous and giddy, possibly pissed, crowd in pool play. Such good times, but it did result in the only World Cup to date where the majority of sides placed second in pool play made it through to the semis.
In the quarters Ireland lost 22-10 to Wales.
2015
This was the World Cup that featured the Southern Hemisphere sides in the semi finals. But it started so well for Ireland. They topped their group including a 24-9 win over France meaning they topped their group.
So all good then, until they got ripped apart 43-20 by Argentina, yes Argentina, in the quarters.
2019
This is the biggest straw clutch of them all. The All Blacks crushed Ireland in the quarters then, so why can’t they do it again. A rite of passion?
But there is a difference.
While Ireland had some firsts in the build up to this, notably a first win over the All Blacks they were spluttering. And they were beaten by Japan (yes Japan) in pool play which put them against the All Blacks in the Quarters.
NZ won the play off game 46-14.
Next, they played England.