Eddie O'Sullivan's Ireland squad departed Dublin Airport for Bordeaux this afternoon, ahead of Sunday's first World Cup match against Pool D minnows Namibia.
The 30-man squad embarks on Ireland's sixth World Cup campaign amid unprecedented optimism despite failing to impress in recent friendlies against Scotland, Italy and French club side Bayonne.
Injury scares in recent weeks - most notably to captain Brian O'Driscoll (sinus), wing Shane Horgan (knee) and flanker David Wallace (ankle) - served to dampen expectations, but a positive prognosis for each has rekindled hope that 2007 could be the year for Ireland to finally make a significant impact on rugby's premier competition.
O'Driscoll is believed to be in contention for a starting berth against Namibia after recovering sufficiently from a broken sinus bone sustained courtesy of cheap shot in what has since been referred to as the 'Battle of Bayonne'.
Wallace, too, is thought to be very close to a competitive return, while Horgan is on target to return from a knee ligament tear in the second game against Georgia in Bordeaux's Chaban-Delmas stadium on the 15th.
Other than that O'Sullivan has no major concerns as he plans to tackle le groupe de la mortthat also contains the hosts and the team ranked sixth in the world, Argentina.
By the time Ireland meet France on September 21st, they will surely have two wins under their belt but will need two more over loftier opposition in Paris to ensure they avoid New Zealand in a Cardiff quarter-final.
Ireland has never been beyond a World Cup quarter-final. Emerging on top of Pool D and securing either Italy or Scotland in the knockout stages represents the most straight forward way of finally reaching the semis.