Ireland’s reward for beating Argentina and securing a place in Top Eight seeds is a rather encouraging draw.
When the squad crosses the Irish Sea to compete in the 2015 Rugby World Cup they will face France, Italy, and two teams – yet to be decided - from the Americas and Europe.
On paper the draw suggests that Ireland will make it out of Pool D.
With the competition still three years away there will always be a level of uncertainty.
But France and Italy will not be unknown quantities as all three teams will get a good look at each other during the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Six Nations.
World class performance
At this early juncture, France will be group favourites having won eight of their last ten matches against Ireland.
But Ireland are more than capable of conjuring up a world class performance as they revealed in a brilliant 15 – 6 defeat of Australia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Italy should hold no fear for Ireland who have never lost to them in a Six Nations match and recorded a comfortable 36 – 6 result win at the last Rugby World Cup.
Beating France will be crucial if Ireland holds any hope of making it past the quarter-finals for the first time.
Finishing second in Pool D will almost certainly mean facing New Zealand who are overwhelming favourites to top Poll C ahead of Argentina and Tonga.
However taking top spot in the group and a likely match-up against Argentina would give Ireland an easier route to the semis than an encounter with the All Blacks.
But Ireland will have blown a huge sigh of relief that they missed the Group of Death carnage in Pool A where hosts England face Australia, Wales and potentially Fiji.
Images ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
