RWC #24: Ireland’s golden generation crash out in group of death

Ireland head into the 2015 World Cup with legitimate hopes of winning it, and this is based on something with far more substance than the usual hopeful optimism which follows Ireland sides to major tournaments.

Joe Schmidt’s side are ranked second in the world, they beat Australia and South Africa last autumn and have won back-to-back Six Nations titles - they’ve got the pedigree of champions.

In 2007 there was a similar level of expectation ahead of the tournament, with Ireland’s golden generation seemingly ready to strike gold.

Captain Brian O'Driscoll was 28. Paul O'Connell 27. Ronan O'Gara 30. Gordon D'Arcy 27. The cream of Ireland's crop, all in their prime.

So it transpired, the 2007 World Cup would be one to remember for Ireland, but for all the wrong reasons.

Things got off to a slow start for Eddie O’Sullivan’s side, who had been drawn alongside France and Argentina, as they crawled to a 32-17 win over Pool D whipping boys Namibia. To put the result into perspective, France managed an extra 55 points.

Any hopes of bouncing back in the second game against Georgia were quickly dismissed as Ireland were dragged into a war of attrition, emerging from Bordeaux with a miserable 14-10 victory and without a bonus point.

And so to a showdown with hosts France. Ireland were fighting for their lives, and it showed. They were more physical and more intense but their new found endeavour wasn’t matched by accuracy and as the game became stretched France were clinical, Vincent Clerc’s two scores sealing a 25-3 win for the hosts at the Stade de France.

One chance left then, for Ireland’s golden boys. They needed a bonus point win against Argentina, conquerors of France in the opening game. It was another error strewn performance and O’Sullivan’s men never got close against the pool toppers.

All that was left to do was pick up the pieces and try and work out where it all went wrong.

Ireland’s World Cup record on the whole doesn’t make for particularly pretty reading, but 2007 was the nadir.