‘Special’ Ireland can make history at the World Cup – but may lose some top stars along the way, warns Brian O’Driscoll

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL hopes Ireland’s ‘special group of players’ can do something historic at the Rugby World Cup.

However, he warned fans not to expect all of Andy Farrell’s top stars to go through the campaign unscathed.

Ireland open their World Cup account against Romania in Bordeaux on Saturday.

Going into the tournament as the world’s number one side and Grand Slam champions, there is a lot of expectation on their shoulders.

One such expectation is for them to do what none of their predecessors managed to do – get past a quarter-final.

Brian O’Driscoll, who played at four World Cups in his Ireland career, told FM104: “This is a very special group of players. There is no doubt the quality is littered throughout.

“They’re playing with high confidence and understandably because of what they have done over the last couple of years but there is ultimately a missing piece of the pie in Irish rugby.

“People will say whatever about winning a World Cup, it’s not getting to that elusive semi-final at a Rugby World Cup.

“We have been a disappointing World Cup team and hopefully this group of players, with everything – all the markers along the way that they’ve ticked in the last couple of seasons – that they’re best positioned to do something that any other Irish team has done.”

However, the former Leinster centre warned that there may be some injury casualties along the way.

In the lead-up to the World Cup, Ireland lost Cian Healy to a calf injury that ruled him out of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Dan Sheehan, Jack Conan and Dave Kilcoyne are out of the Romania game, although it is expected that they will be back against Tonga next week.

O’Driscoll added: “I think the danger, and one of the big aspects around how physical this World Cup is going to be, is what personnel we are going to lose over the course of the group stages which, looking at the game, is probably inevitable.

“We have been fortunate not to lose anyone permanently – other than Cian Healy, obviously.

“He’s gone from the squad but prior to him, Dan Sheehan being brought into the squad, Jack Conan and Dave Kilcoyne picking up injuries but still being selected.

“I think if you look at other squads, we have actually done relatively well up to this point, touch wood.

“I think it’s imperative that we try and hold on to our key performers. Whatever team is selected, you will see guys playing an hour and then being ready for the next game.

“We should be okay against Romania. Tonga will be physical so what is the attrition rate? What is the fall-off from that and before  you go into the South African game which is, again, on another level.”

SPRING IN THEIR STEP

The Boys in Green face the Springboks in what is, on paper, their toughest test on September 23.

Jacques Nienaber’s side are reigning champions, number two in the world, and coming into the game fresh off the back of a devastating 35-7 win over the All Blacks in their last warm-up test.

Ireland beat South Africa in Dublin in November 2022, but O’Driscoll warned that they will be one of the tournament favourites.

O’Driscoll admitted: “It is the most physical game.

“It always has been because they pride themselves on route one and if that gameplan isn’t working, they ramp it up a couple of notches.

“Obviously a very forward-orientated gameplan but then  confrontational in the centre as well but then very elusive wingers, as well.

“They’ve got a lovely mix to their squad at the moment. Lots of experience, the knowhow that many of them have already won one World Cup four year