RUGBY: Denied the immediacy factor, there was a touch of unreality about the ramifications of the 2007 World Cup draw in Dublin. It was easy to understand why Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan took a pragmatic view of a tournament that will not take place for almost four years.
His immediate reaction to a tough draw that pits Ireland against France - it's the second successive World Cup in which they find themselves lumped with the hosts - and old foes Argentina was philosophical. "The two things out of that draw are that with France, the host nation, we're going to be away from home, whereas if we had a different country - a New Zealand or an Australia - we'd be at home.
"The other thing is Argentina, which is going to be a very difficult game as well. The whole idea of getting out of the group and getting through to the quarter-finals will be the focal point again. You've got two (other) of the top 10 teams in the world in your group, and, in fairness to Argentina, the World Cup is like a focal point to them. They don't have a Six Nations like we do every year, so the World Cup is their big day in the sun and they always put up big performances in it. It will be no different in 2007."
On the issue of facing France in Paris, O'Sullivan admitted that it'll be a big ask for his team. "It's the exact same for us because we played the host nation, Australia, the last time. We lost that game very narrowly, and I think had that game been anywhere but Australia we might have won."
The Irish coach smiled when it was suggested that Ireland's home matches in 2007 might not be played at Lansdowne Road given that the proposed development might not have started/finished: "You're asking the wrong man, I just prepare the team. We want to play our home games at home, there's no point in me concerning myself with that. Other people can concern themselves with that, my job is to get the team ready and once we have a regulation-size pitch marked out, we'll go out and play."
It is, though a concern for the IRFU as it has already been denied one glamour fixture with the French game to be played in Paris.
If Lansdowne Road were not available, then the Croke Park issue would once again be raised as the demand for tickets would be sufficiently high to remove the possibility of staging the game in Thomond Park, Musgrave Park or Ravenhill. The Millennium Stadium scenario would become a serious option if Lansdowne or Croke Park were not available.
O'Sullivan conceded that Ireland could enjoy the honour of being involved in the first match of the 2007 tournament. "I suppose there's always a chance that (being in) with the host nation, we could be the first game up.
"I know the last time it was Australia v Argentina, but I think it's possible they could have France v Ireland as the first game of the tournament. It's tough to have the home nation in your pool for a second time. But we won't concern ourselves with the minutiae of it for another year and half anyway."
He singled out the work done by his counterpart over the last few years to remove the traditional French failing of indiscipline. "I think what Bernard Laporte has brought to the French team is a consistency in lots of ways. Consistency to the way they play they game, consistency in their structures in defence and attack, and he's brought in a huge level of discipline to the side.
"You could beat French teams in the past by the penalties they give away through indiscipline, but you can't anymore. I think France will have been disappointed with the last World Cup. They'll see the Rugby World Cup in France as their chance to win the Webb Ellis trophy."
He fully expects to see Argentina grab the Americas 1 spot, but pointed out that the US could pip Canada to Americas 2. "Argentina are definitely the strongest team in the Americas. It's possible that America 2 will go to the US instead of Canada, but I don't see anyone else being in a position to overturn Argentina because they have so many professional players playing overseas."
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll regarded the French connection with a degree of trepidation. "The last two years we've found it tough over there. We'll be worried going over there, but healthily worried. You have to have a little bit of fear going over there. But they'll be nervous too, because they'll be expected to win the whole competition."
On the fluctuating fortunes against Argentina, O'Driscoll conceded: "I think the edge is back with Ireland, but you can only go game by game, not World Cup by World Cup. They've been a great side over the past five, six years and they'll be a tough side to beat again. Hopefully we will be too.
"I thought we showed great courage and great balls to come through that game (against Argentina in the 2003 World Cup), because it was the most uncomfortable game on the pitch that anyone in an Irish jersey had ever played.
"But again, it's three years down the track and anything can happen."
