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The idea that winning the World Cup is not a priority for the most fit international rugby team may not make sense.
But it's hard to oppose a culture that prioritizes performance improvement – including bottom line – when it has had the highest winning percentage of all top teams in the past year. of the planet.
This is the case of Ireland, which will head to the Six Nations this weekend as a team to beat, following a campaign without defeat of the fall during which it beat the World Champion, New Zealand.
Following the loss, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen named Ireland one of the World Cup favorites, but the former Irish captain, Paul O. Connell, believes that raising the trophy of the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time will not determine their ambitions.
The veteran of four World Cups said the focus will be on performance, a culture developed from the Test-level age that can make Ireland the best in the world.
"New Zealand, when you look at their strength and depth, their record, I would have them as number one," he told BBC Sport. "But Ireland, with smaller numbers, pushes them very close.I think they have the capacity to be the best.
"This is the first time they have participated in a (World Cup) tournament after having recently defeated each leading team.
"But it's funny, there will be no goal setting where they will see victory in the World Cup as the definition of success." The definition of success for them will be improvement and if they continue to improve, they could and should win. "
The return of Vunipola threatens the hopes of the Six Nations
First and foremost, Ireland must defend its Six Nations title, a title that O 'Connell, who has disputed 13 campaigns, considers "so important". Ireland sealed the Grand Slam last year, only a third of its history, against England in Twickenham and they opened this campaign against the same opponents in Dublin.
While visiting head coach Eddie Jones considers the hosts, who have won 18 of their last 19 tries, including 12 consecutive at Aviva Stadium, as the best team in the world, he also promised a brutal clash.
Ireland could win three straight wins against England for the first time in eight years, but O Connell, rugby expert on BBC TV, thinks he will face "a very different team" Saturday.
England will be motivated by the pain of its worst result among the Six Nations, fifth in 2018, and reinforced by the return of Billy Vunipola, number eight at 130 kg. The Saracens striker has only five entries in a test in almost two years after a series of injuries.
Billy Vunipola's last English cap was opposed to South Africa in June 2018, but he is now cured of a broken arm.
"During my last year in Munster, I played against Billy for Saracens and he was without a doubt one of the best players I have ever played against," said the third player on more capped Ireland, who won eight of his 13 games.
"A lot of guys of his size and shape tend not to be fit enough to have a relentless effect on the game, but I thought he was amazing." A brilliant ball carrier, very hard to attack , excellent feet, can pbad.It will make a very big difference. "
The former captain of the British and Irish Lions also praised the influence of Owen Farrell, an English flyhalf, a teammate of the Lions Tour in Australia in 2013, who simply enhances the men who l & # 39; 39; around. "
But, despite claims from England, pressure on Ireland for the win, tournament favorites will only be focused on one thing.
"I think Eddie Jones probably thinks he's putting Ireland under pressure, but the pressure is not too much on this team," added O Connell. "It's not just about winning, but about performance."
School clbad at super coach for Schmidt
The long-term investment in continuous improvement has enabled the current coaching facility to "reap the rewards," according to O & # 39; Connell.
In six years, head coach Joe Schmidt led Ireland from eighth to second in the world, while Ireland won 74% of his matches (46 of 62) during his tenure. Their win rate at the professional level before his appointment was only 54%.
Schmidt is expected to retire after the World Cup. He will be replaced by badistant coach Andy Farrell, after three Six Nations titles, a Grand Slam, two wins against New Zealand, a first win against South Africa and the triumph of the first series in Australia.
The current captain, Rory Best, has praised the development of co-coaches at Schmidt, but for O'Connell, his greatest strength lies in his ability to teach English at high school in his native New Zealand.
"It's a brilliant teacher," said O & # 39; Connell, who secured Ireland's victory at his Six Nations under Schmidt in 2014 and 2015. "Coaches can develop these habits and behaviors in their players faster than others, and the ability to develop faster is reduced to your ability to teach faster. "
The badytical approach of the double winner of the Heineken Cup has enabled Ireland to execute its basics ruthlessly. They conceded the least penalties and the least turnovers of any first-tier teams in 2018. While accuracy is a buzzword in rugby testing, Ireland rarely misses the ball.
"When they have to shoot, they give well, their game is excellent," O Connell said.
"In general, the line-out is also first-clbad, and their pbad, both in the back and in the attackers, falls into the category where it rivals New Zealand.
"Collectively, their bases are as good as anyone's at the moment."
The best system in the world means sharp players
In Ireland, players are centralized in the union, not clubs, which means that time on the field can be managed carefully to keep international players in school for the Test stadium.
Farrell and Irish number 10 Johnny Sexton are likely to be opponents this weekend. Sexton played 552 minutes of club rugby this season, while Farrell, with 1,015 minutes, nearly doubled.
While Mr. O. Connell believes that Ireland must be "smart" because of a significantly smaller player pool than some of its rivals, he thinks they have, with New Zealand, the world's best system for player management.
"At the moment the Six Nations come into play, the players are cool but they are also very strong," he said. "It means that players are good for their provinces but also for Ireland."
Jacob Stockdale scored the only test when Ireland beat the All Blacks 16 to 9 at Aviva Stadium in November
Ireland has also developed a formidable strength in depth, with the IRFU being able to ensure that promising players are bogged down in Pro 14 as part of their development.
The rise of players such as Tadgh Bernie of Munster, his teammate and Heineken Cup scorer Joey Carbery and his half-match Connacht Kieran Marmion mean that Sexton remains extremely important, but that Ireland countless less on stars.
But if Ireland faced New Zealand in the World Cup final tomorrow, would O Connell help them win? "I would, but then, I am biased."
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