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Brooke runs out of the reach of Ireland's Malcolm O'Kelly in a 1997 clash. Ross Setford/EMPICS Sport
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Only one World Cup question for Ireland to answer, says All Blacks legend

We caught up with one of the game’s great number eights, Zinzan Brooke, to chat about Ireland’s World Cup chances.

WORLD CUP WINNER and All Blacks supremo Zinzan Brooke believes that Ireland have got what it takes to win this year’s World Cup, but only if they are firing on all cylinders come the knockout stages.

Sitting down with TheScore.ie yesterday, the big number eight said that Declan Kidney’s men have the quality and depth of talent to launch a serious challenge in New Zealand, though he warned that they will have to be in peak condition if they are to pull off the coup.

Since Brooke and his All Black team-mates trumped France in the 1987 decider, only one team from north of the equator has lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup: England in 2003.

If Ireland are to further dilute that statistic this autumn, they may have to overcome the three southern hemisphere giants — South Africa, New Zealand and Australia — in three successive knockout games en route to glory.

“I think Ireland have got a very good chance,” Brooke said. “I think they can win it.”

But the question mark for me about Ireland is whether or not they can perform in three games in row, the three knockout games.

“I was at the game against England [in the Six Nations] and the performance that they put in in that game, that was pretty comprehensive. That’s the kind of performance you need, three times.

“That’s my only question mark — can they do that three weeks in a row? We know that South Africa can, we know that Australia can, we know that New Zealand can. That’s the test.

Once bitten …

However, like every player currently vying for a spot on the Irish plane, Brooke hasn’t forgotten the nightmare campaign of 2007 when, dazzled by the hype about their prospects, Eddie O’Sullivan’s men crashed out in the group stages.

Let the past be the past, he advises, but don’t get fooled again.

“There are lessons to be learned [from 2007]. The core of those players will be still there too.

“But if people start thinking about quarter-finals and semi-finals, you’ll come unstuck.

“You can actually trip over a game in the pool rounds, winning ugly is fine. But you have to take it game by game. When you get to the quarter-final, focus on the quarter-final. Don’t even think about the next game.

It’s not about the ‘what ifs.’ You can’t do that, you just have to approach the game and take each one minute by minute and just win the game first.

Trading places

One thing in Ireland’s favour is the intensity of competition for a place in the final squad, with three or four realistic contenders in every position.

The most discussed berth is at out-half, where the tussle between Jonny Sexton and Ronan O’Gara will decide which of the two will be handed a starting role and who will be called upon as an impact substitute.

Having two quality players vying for the same spot is a nice position for Kidney to be in, says Brooke. ”It’s great having the choice.”

“I think both of them can actually win games, but I just think Sexton is probably a little more confident. There won’t be a problem getting Ronan to slot in.

“Sexton’s a very good individual, he knows how to win matches. He’s got that competence, he knows what he has to deliver.

On the day, it’s making sure that you pick the right man and then that he actually delivers.

“They’re in pieces”

Though the path to the final is fraught with difficulty, Brooke reckons that there’s at least one thing that Ireland should be thankful for.

That is that they haven’t been drawn in Pool D, the pool which he sees as the “pool of death” and which he feels could scupper South Africa’s chance of retaining their crown.

“Everyone thinks that South Africa are guaranteed to get out of their pool because they’re the defending champions, but they’re in pieces at the moment.

“You’ve got to get by Samoa, Namibia and Fiji. I think Wales could potentially come last [in Pool D]. People always forget that Wales lost to Fiji.

“The writing’s on the wall there. That there, I would not want to be in that pool.”

All Blacks rugby legend Zinzan Brooke was in Dublin to launch Heineken’s Rugby World Cup on pack promotion, offering rugby fans the chance to win a VIP trip to the final in New Zealand and daily prizes.

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