Ireland bidding to avoid World Cup disaster

THE GAME may be a Six Nations dead rubber but Ireland are desperate to beat Scotland in Dublin this Saturday to avoid a serious World Cup 2019 headache at next December’s draw in Japan. World Rugby’s rankings will be used to determine the makeup of the five four-team tiers for the finals in Japan and Ireland face dropping to ninth, and into the third band of seeds, this weekend if they lose to the Scots in Dublin and France lose by 15 points or less against Grand Slam chasing England in Paris. If Joe Schmidt’s side fall into the third band of four — a remarkably swift descent as they were ranked second best in the world just last August following 13 wins in 14 matches — their fixtures over the rest of the year would make getting back into the world’s top eight a huge challenge. Their schedule includes a daunting three-Test June tour of South Africa followed by two fixtures against world champions New Zealand and another against World Cup finalists Australia, while their only other match, against lowly Canada, would not be worth many ranking points as little or none are on offer for wins against minnow nations. Struggling Ireland ended their worst run of the Schmidt era –

four games without a win — last Saturday, their Six Nations rout of Italy lifting them to seventh ahead of the French in the rankings. However, a return to losing ways would see the up-and-coming Scots leapfrog them and leave the IRFU worried what might transpire if results don’t improve prior to the December draw for 2019. Despite winning the 2012 Six Nations, a summer/autumn slump against the southern hemisphere’s best saw Wales tumble out of the top eight, resulting in them being drawn in a pool for England 2015 that featured the host nation and Australia. Meanwhile, Ireland last night dismissed speculation that skipper Rory Best (below) is a doubt to face Scotland despite missing training. ‘It was a little tight in the calf at the end of training (on Monday)… but the medics feel he should be fine, ready to go for Thursday,’ reported assistant coach Richie Murphy, who added Cian Healy and Eoin Reddan, ruled out of the Italian match with respective hamstring and calf complaints, are fit. Schmidt is expected to pick the same starting XV that beat Italy 58-15.