South Africa's World Cup winning coach Jake White believes Ireland are ideally positioned to lift the Webb Ellis Cup this time round.
White, who guided the Springboks to their second crown in 2007 in France, said he can see no reason why Joe Schmidt’s side can’t go all the way.
The 52-year old, who is now director of coaching at Montpellier, said that a lack of depth was the primary reason for Ireland not getting past the quarter-final stage at previous World Cup tournaments.
But White said it is now clear that there is genuine back-up and that the strength is there to mount a serious bid.
“”I think it shows just how much Irish rugby has progressed. They have never been a force, I’m saying that with respect, they have been fantastic but one of the things they probably struggled with is depth.
“Once they lost two or three players then there was a massive difference with what team they could put on the field but there is no doubt now but the guys who are understudies or fighting for places in the World Cup squad, the sort of midweek players as they would have been in the old days, have definitely taken a step up.”
White said that while the pool decider would probably come down to a straight battle with France in the final game, Ireland should make the most of a favourable draw.
"You look at the draw and they must be enjoying themselves that they have given themselves a fair crack at winning the World Cup. There have been a lot of accolades to Joe Schmidt about what he has done with Irish rugby.
Fantastic achievement
“Take it any way you want but to be rated two in the world is a fantastic achievement. It doesn’t matter how you package it but they are the second best team in the world and they have beaten teams that they have struggled to win against consistently.
“In the World Cup, as everyone knows, you have got to win seven games in a row and Ireland have shown they have got consistency in their game.
“That’s the question mark over any team – can you win seven games in a row at the World Cup. It has never happened that a team has lost in its pool stage and won the World Cup.
“And if you look at Ireland, and I’m not saying they are in an easier pool but they have an easier pool than some teams and they can almost measure the way they want to go in the whole World Cup, they know who they have to win against, what they need to do against some of those teams and psychologically they have won against those teams already.”
White said that Ireland had shown they had the nerve for tight finishes in winning the last two Six Nations crowns and he believes they will head into the tournament full of confidence.
“I think Joe has chosen some really good warm-up games. I think Joe always aims high and he should with Ireland. I think it is fantastic for Irish rugby to have a guy like that settled in the job and there is no doubt he has added massive value.”
England have omitted Danny Cipriani from their World Cup squad. Cipriani mounted a late challenge for inclusion in the 31-man party that will be announced on Thursday, but has found his path blocked at outhalf and fullback and has been told the news by head coach, Stuart Lancaster. The 27-year-old's exclusion comes despite him inspiring England's fightback in the 25-20 defeat by France in Paris on Saturday with a dynamic final-quarter cameo from the bench, and he had been tipped in some quarters for a place at the tournament.
