There was an air of cautious optimism in Dublin Airport as thousands of Irish rugby fans prepared to fly to France.
Tomorrow, the Boys in Green take on Scotland in the Stade de France in Paris.
If Johnny Sexton can captain the team to victory, Ireland will head through to the quarter finals of the World Cup.
To 62-year-old Maurice, the sense of nervous excitement ahead of a match is one he is very familiar with.
He has been attending Ireland matches since 1970 when his father used to buy tickets for only a handful of shillings.
“I’m confident that we have the ability to beat Scotland,” he told Henry McKean for The Hard Shoulder.
“Scotland are the type of team that can throw a curveball - and they have done that before.
“I don’t like them and I don’t trust them - the Scots are the reason we’re not hosting the Rugby World Cup and they’re the guys who didn’t turn up in 1972 when we should have won the Grand Slam that year.
“So, I’m a bit worried about the Scots but I think we will qualify for the quarter finals.
“We’ll beat Scotland but it’ll be a tight game, it’s not going to be a cakewalk.”
One more sleep! 😍#TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/2qHQ53jyjd
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) October 6, 2023
Rónán from Dublin described himself as “pretty excited” and was heading over with 14 school friends for what he predicted would be a weekend of “carnage.”
Like Maurice, he was also upbeat about Ireland’s prospects against Scotland.
“We’ve beaten them so many times now,” he said.
“When you beat a team that many times, sometimes they figure out how to beat you back.”
Another traveller was also certain Ireland would emerge victorious.
“I think Ireland will,” he said.
“I think they’re up for it, I think they’re got the consistency, the self-belief, I’d be very confident that they’d get there.”
Ireland v Scotland begins on Saturday at 8pm.
Main image: Ireland rugby fans.
