FORMER AUSTRALIA COACH Robbie Deans believes Ireland are good enough to win the Rugby World Cup this year under Joe Schmidt.
Currently on Irish soil to coach the Barbarians for Thursday’s clash with a Leinster/Ulster combination Schmidt side, Deans has recently been heavily linked with the vacant head coach position at Leinster.
Deans reckons Paul O'Connell's Ireland are good enough to win. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
The former All Black fullback was in charge of the Wallabies at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, when they were beaten by Declan Kidney’s Ireland side, before his tenure ended after the 2013 series defeat to the Lions.
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Deans’ reputation in the coaching world remains strong, however, and having watched Ireland develop from afar in his current role as head coach of Japanese club Panasonic Wild Knights, he has been wholly impressed.
“They’ll be right there,” said Deans of Ireland’s World Cup chances. “They’re capable of going the whole way, they’ve shown that. There’s only one side they haven’t beaten and that’s the All Blacks, but they should have last time out.
Whoever does prevail, it’s the nature of World Cups, they’ll need things to go their way.
“There will be moments of anxiety so it won’t be plain sailing, and they’ll need elements of luck. You don’t want to pick up injuries and lose momentum through combinations breaking, that sort of thing.”
“But Ireland have got more depth now, they’re fitter and they’re enjoying the innocence of the climb, if you like, but they’ve got some old heads steering it. They look great.”
There is the potential for Ireland to bump into Deans’ former side at the semi-final stage of the World Cup this year, and the Barbarians coach reckons Schmidt’s men would face a formidable challenge if that proves the case.
Stephen Ferris and Ireland beats Deans' Wallabies in 2011. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Deans’ 2011 Wallabies were beaten by New Zealand at the semi-final stage, but the 55-year-old believes Michael Cheika’s Australia are now more mature as a group.
“They’re capable of anything,” said Deans. “It will be one of the most experienced Australian teams that’s been put out for some time. In 2011 the Wallabies were the youngest combination at the World Cup.
In many ways, 2015 was always going to be their time. They’ve got a lot more depth now and they’ve added some serious X-factor elements but also some substance. The front-row experience, for example.
“They’ve got blokes who’ve been to a World Cup, who are all 50-plus [in terms of caps] and that’s significant.”
Ireland capable of going all the way at the World Cup - Robbie Deans
FORMER AUSTRALIA COACH Robbie Deans believes Ireland are good enough to win the Rugby World Cup this year under Joe Schmidt.
Currently on Irish soil to coach the Barbarians for Thursday’s clash with a Leinster/Ulster combination Schmidt side, Deans has recently been heavily linked with the vacant head coach position at Leinster.
The former All Black fullback was in charge of the Wallabies at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, when they were beaten by Declan Kidney’s Ireland side, before his tenure ended after the 2013 series defeat to the Lions.
Deans’ reputation in the coaching world remains strong, however, and having watched Ireland develop from afar in his current role as head coach of Japanese club Panasonic Wild Knights, he has been wholly impressed.
“They’ll be right there,” said Deans of Ireland’s World Cup chances. “They’re capable of going the whole way, they’ve shown that. There’s only one side they haven’t beaten and that’s the All Blacks, but they should have last time out.
“There will be moments of anxiety so it won’t be plain sailing, and they’ll need elements of luck. You don’t want to pick up injuries and lose momentum through combinations breaking, that sort of thing.”
“But Ireland have got more depth now, they’re fitter and they’re enjoying the innocence of the climb, if you like, but they’ve got some old heads steering it. They look great.”
There is the potential for Ireland to bump into Deans’ former side at the semi-final stage of the World Cup this year, and the Barbarians coach reckons Schmidt’s men would face a formidable challenge if that proves the case.
Deans’ 2011 Wallabies were beaten by New Zealand at the semi-final stage, but the 55-year-old believes Michael Cheika’s Australia are now more mature as a group.
“They’re capable of anything,” said Deans. “It will be one of the most experienced Australian teams that’s been put out for some time. In 2011 the Wallabies were the youngest combination at the World Cup.
“They’ve got blokes who’ve been to a World Cup, who are all 50-plus [in terms of caps] and that’s significant.”
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