In Greek legend the ship of Theseus had every single plank and nail replaced by a new one over the course of several centuries. The issue of whether or not it remained the same vessel has been the subject of philosophical debate ever since.
The same question could be posed about a national team which has never progressed beyond the quarter finals of a Rugby World Cup. Is the Irish rugby team which takes to the field at Stade de France tonight against the All Blacks the one that wilted in Tokyo in 2019 against the same opposition? Or the one that, decimated by injuries, fell to Argentina in 2015? Or even the one that failed to live up to its favourites tag against Wales in 2011?
Of course not. Andy Farrell’s 2023 squad of players do not have the demeanour of men haunted by historical precedent. Mentally fortified by sports psychology guru Gary Keegan, inspired by Farrell’s indomitable positivity, rolling inexorably towards a world record-equalling 18-match winning streak, they smile in the face of adversity, or so we are told. They have no demons to conquer. Except ours.
That ominous cloud at the back of many supporters’ heads is the result of very painful memories. They know that successive Irish teams have found an ingenious variety of ways to lose quarter finals. So for them it will always be the same cursed ship until Ireland finally get to a semi-final. Congenital pessimists and the superstitious may conclude it only makes matters worse that this team is fancied more than its predecessors ever were to win the actual trophy and that pundits agree any potential semi-final opponent would be a pushover. We are clearly doomed.
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Or maybe not. It is appropriate that this toughest of challenges should come against New Zealand. Irish rugby’s bogey team were finally toppled in Chicago in 2016 after 111 years of disappointment. The Rugby World Cup has existed for a mere 36 years. Not so much a curse, then, as a run of bad luck begging to be broken. Nothing can possibly go wrong.