Ireland Rugby World Cup 2023 Fixtures, Odds & Squad - Can Ireland finally produce the goods at the RWC?

While the showpiece even kicks off on 8 September this year, Ireland have a fairly comfortable start as they face Romania on 9 September to get their campaign underway. Tougher challenges, however, come soon enough.

On 16 September the Irish face Tonga, another side they should beat with relative comfort, although the Tongans are not a side to be taken lightly. However, on 23 September the big challenge awaits when Ireland face defending champions, South Africa.

Pool B is the group of death by some distance. With Ireland, South Africa, and Scotland in the group, only two can progress, meaning one of the top five sides in the world will be going home.

Ireland ends the group stage on 7 October against Scotland. It could be a deciding game, depending on the results they both achieve against the Springboks earlier in the group stage.

Despite being ranked at the top of the pile, Ireland are mere third favourites at the World Cup this year at 5.00 with bet.co.za. They are behind the hosts France and New Zealand.

There could be value in backing the winner of Pool B as well. Ireland are favourites at 1.83, followed by South Africa and then Ireland.

Ireland’s Rugby World Cup history makes for pretty bleak reading…if you’re Irish. They have never progressed beyond the quarter-final stage in their nine previous tournaments.

This is despite being among the best in the world at pretty much all of them. It is true that Ireland have never been the outright favourites to win the competition, and many forget they were ranked at No.1 ahead of the 2019 World Cup as well.

However, the Irish never seem to peak at the crucial stage, causing them to suffer unexpected defeats. The feeling in 2023 is however different, so will we get more of the same, or is this a new Ireland?

Ireland's World Cup squad will be named closer to the time.