Jones advises Ireland to focus on the bigger prize after repeated quarter-final exits.
Legendary rugby coach and current Japan manager Eddie Jones has weighed in on Irish Rugby’s World Cup Quarter Final curse and why that glass ceiling has been our undoing in four consecutive World Cups.
Rugby fever gripped Ireland in late 2023 as the team lit up the World Cup in France. A stirring group-stage victory over South Africa had the nation dreaming of a first-ever title, but once more the quarter finals proved the final stop as New Zealand ended Ireland’s dream.
Jones Warns About Six Nations Focus
Speaking in an interview recently, Jones, the former England manager, revealed he believes the weight of Six Nations expectation may be holding Ireland back from the bigger goal.
“World Cups – they’re different,” he said. “The Six Nations in a World Cup year is a very important part of preparing. Maybe sometimes the pressure to win the Six Nations can detract from the longer term objective of winning the World Cup. You’ve got to get that balance right.”
Lessons from New Zealand
Ireland’s last two World Cup exits have come at the hands of the All Blacks. Jones pointed to their own struggles before finally winning again in 2011 as evidence for Ireland to be positive.
“Look at New Zealand, they won their first World Cup in 2011 from the last one they won in 87. For a period of time, they couldn’t win the big moments in the games, and they had to do a lot of soul searching…I’m sure Ireland will be doing all those sorts of things to get themselves right.”
Praise for the Current Squad
Looking ahead to November’s Autumn Nations Series – where Ireland will face his Japan team, along with South Africa, Australia and New Zealand – Jones spoke on how highly he rates the Irish team.
“I think they’re still an excellent team… Gibson-Park was the outstanding player on the Lions tour. Keenan at full back is a hard worker, they’ve still got a good forward pack. They compete really hard and deserve their second ranking.”
International rugby union returns to Wembley Stadium on 1 November as world champions South Africa take on Japan.
Buy tickets here: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/2300630CC1A90C73
