Ireland 2023/24 - RWC and Onwards

First topic message reminder :

So another season is over, and we're getting ready for Andy Farrell's announcement this coming week for his initial RWC squad that will be used in upcoming warm-up games against Italy (5 Aug) , England (19 Aug) both in Aviva, and then a whittled down finalised RWC squad to play Samoa in France on 26 Aug.

The U20s RWC kicks off in South Africa in July.

After Munster's well-deserved win against Stormers, Farrell & Co may have paused for thought as to who comes into the wider squad beyond the nailed-on members. The 42 man RWC Training Squad announced is:

Forwards (22)

Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University)
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne)
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere)
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster)
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College)
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf)
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf)
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy)
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch)
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne)
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians)
Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin University)
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution)
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch)
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD)
Cian Prendergast (Connacht/Corinthians)
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne)
Tom Stewart (Ulster/Ballynahinch)*
Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena)
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD)

Backs (20)

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians)
Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians)
Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD)
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon)
Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution)
Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster)
Ciaran Frawley (Leinster/UCD)*
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)
Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians)
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD)
James Lowe (Leinster)
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor)
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen)
Calvin Nash (Munster/Young Munster)*
Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas)
Jamie Osborne (Leinster/Naas)*
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD)
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College)
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan)

Hartley calling a ref a cheat to his face is worse and then denying it made things even worse. There was no mitigation and he boasted the longest rap sheet in world rugby at the time. I dont think Dylan Hartley provides a useful precedent for anything other than himself really.

Hartley was talking to Youngs to be fair to him. Ambiguous enough to get confused.

mikey_dragon wrote:Stephen Ferris’ comments , another one-eye. Some of you still think you’re above the laws.

Ferris is as much a buffoon in commentary as he was a human wrecking ball on the pitch. Pay him no heed.

mikey_dragon wrote:And yet there’s only one nation to claim that they don’t, so keep your glass house .

Mikey your letting your own bias show fella. Not a good look making sweeping generalisations based on the actions of an individual.
You wouldn't want as all to think every welsh fan is like phillBb now would you?

carpet baboon wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:And yet there’s only one nation to claim that they don’t, so keep your glass house .

Mikey your letting your own bias show fella. Not a good look making sweeping generalisations based on the actions of an individual.
You wouldn't want as all to think every welsh fan is like phillBb  now would you?

Looks like Jean Kleyn has been included in SAs world cup squad. Canan Moodie too. Talk of them in ahead of De Jager and Pollard.

Rumour too that Am will not make it.

SA have selected four scrum halves.

Confirmed:
No Pollard
No Am
No De Jager

They are a bit of a loss to SA but they have not got a single test win v Ireland between them.

Interesting Bok squad.

No Pollard is a big blow for the Boks, if half expected them to take him half fit and hope he'd recover ahead of the knock out stages.

formerly known as Sam wrote:No Pollard is a big blow for the Boks, if half expected them to take him half fit and hope he'd recover ahead of the knock out stages.

All three players are on the stand by list if other players get injured.

I think they may even be travelling with the squad, wouldnt be surprised if there is some Rassie funny business going on and they are called up later on.

Four scrum halves is a weird call though.

I just don't think SA are as much of a threat without a better fly-half. De Jager and Am are huge blows. I suppose SA will come together well and get better as the world cup goes on like usual. Ireland must be favourites to win the pool though.

Am is a huge loss for them. When fit he is one of the best 13s in the world.

Cian Prendergast is playing No 8 for Ireland in their warm-up match against England this weekend.

Keith Earls could win his 100th cap if he comes off the bench on Saturday.

Ronán Kelleher is not selected due to an ongoing injury. Will he be dropped in favour of Tom Stewart for the final 33 RWC squad?

England's team is looking pretty good. Earl against VDF will be good.
I can see us trying to go after steward and forcing Watson and Daly back to help him

carpet baboon wrote:England's team is looking pretty good. Earl against VDF will be good.
I can see us trying to go after steward and forcing Watson and Daly back to help him

It's a good rehearsal for the RWC final in October for both teams.

Pot Hale wrote:Cian Prendergast is playing No 8 for Ireland in their warm-up match against England this weekend.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how he goes. With Conan carrying a knock this is a huge opportunity for him.

Pot Hale wrote:Ronán Kelleher is not selected due to an ongoing injury.  Will he be dropped in favour of Tom Stewart for the final 33 RWC squad?

He seems to pick up injuries very regularly. Cracking player when fit

Farrell on Wednesday released Kieran Treadwell, Caolin Blade, Gavin Coombes, Calvin Nash and Jamie Osborne from his squad.

I thought Coombes would be in with a shout.

Looks like Ireland want to win today in their warm-up match against England. Both teams have a good number of likely RWC starters in their line-ups. England will have the advantage of having played last week, Ireland will have the advantage of having not played.

May the best team win.

Pot Hale wrote:Looks like Ireland want to win today...

Yeah, I couldn't picture them wanting to lose tbh.

The only comments on the game being left of the England thread? Not good enough, much like the team's performance.

Okay, that's harsh as for most of the guys they haven't played much recently and the rustiness was all too evident. A lack of precision and some some poor choices made are to be expected. But England were there to be put to the sword. They lacked their usual physicality and many seemed almost disinterested, but we failed to make much of an impression up front. The scrums were pretty even but the line out was poor. Both Sheehan and Herring had poor throws and the organisation of the maul was poor as highlighted by 2 penalties for getting ahead of the catcher. We are getting pinged for that on what seems like a regular basis. Hopefully this is just another symptom of the lack of game time, but I'm not sure.

I think game can be best summed up by the fact that the only cheer louder than Earls coming on for his 100th cap, was when he scored (off a pass that would have at least been reviewed in a more serious game).

I hope Sheehan's injury isn't serious. I don't believe we can carry anyone (other than the blessed Johnny) into the tournament with an injury. SA, Scotland and a quarter final against France or the Blacks will be too attritional.

We were pretty bang average if I'm being honest. Lots of miss places passes and running lines were not to the standard we would.expect.
Line out was terrible, and there really shouldn't be any excuse for that.
Some good things. Joe McCarthy looks like a serious talent.
Even below par we scored 5 trys.
Lowe and Mac looked sharp.
Not a bad run out for the 11 starters who hadn't played yet.

Will expect a lot better next week

Israel Folau is out of the RWC so they wont have to face him v Tonga

Dan Sheehan looking at 6 to 8 weeks out with that foot injury according to Ruaidhri O'Connor in the Irish Independent. O'Connor is usually really well informed on Irish rugby matters. Similar to Charlie Morgan of the Telegraph with England.

That's a cruel blow for Sheehan and Ireland if so. He was genuinely world class in the Six Nations. Hooker is a very strong position worldwide but Sheehan is now firmly in that group alongside Montoya, Marx and Marchand that is leading the way just ahead of Mbonambi, Mauvaka and Taukei'aho.

He'd miss the pool stages if that's correct. He's so good I'd presume that Farrell would have him in the squad for the KOs if there's a good chance he'd recover in time.

So that would leave Tom Stewart and Rob Herring, as Kelleher is also out?

Has Kelleher been confirmed as being out? I thought he was back in training?

I’m not sure, but I thought I read it on here somewhere. Not to worry, Andrew Porter can probably play hooker as well.

I thought it was being said that Kelleher would be fit for the start of the tournament if not for the game in Bayonne. But getting through the group stages with just him and Herring seems a massive risk given the attritional nature of the game and particularly Kelleher's injury history. There is no point in having an injured person in the squad ready for a return in the knock outs if don't get to the knockouts. Van Der Flier and Healy did a sterling job in the 6N match, but this isn't a realistic option at the RWC.

So Sheehan misses out and Stewart makes the squad for me.

Thank goodness I don't have to make the decision, in Andy Farrell we trust!

Kelleher's expected to be available for the start of the tournament AFAIK. He's touch and go for the final warmup against Samoa though. Hence Darmuid Barron being added to the training squad as a contingency alongside Herring, Stewart and Kelleher. Obviously, if Kelleher isn't ready for Samoa then they'd be one injury in training from only having one fit hooker. Hence Barron coming from nowhere.

Healy has been scrummaging at hooker as well as TH in training due to the change in laws around uncontested scrums. If you don't have a registered specialist available in a front row position due to multiple injuries or cards then you drop down to 14 men (or less if someone is carded!) when going uncontested now. Obviously, this is to prevent sides from faking injuries to get uncontested scrums. Healy has been training across the front row and is registered as being able to play all three positions for this reason on official teamsheets. I believe Finlay Bealham is still registered on teamsheets as able to play LH for the same reason despite moving to TH in 2015. An interesting example of this well oiled Ireland machine covering its bases.

Whether they'd want to consider Healy being on the bench for a group game is a different thing entirely of course. I rate Sheehan so highly I'd fit him in. Even if it meant losing a back row to fit Stewart in for hooker cover. Baird and Bierne can play blindside very well, whilst POM and Doris are versatile back rows themselves. I'd rather for instance have Kelleher covering flanker against Romania if needed than not have Sheehan for a RWC KO game.

king_carlos wrote:Kelleher's expected to be available for the start of the tournament AFAIK. He's touch and go for the final warmup against Samoa though. Hence Darmuid Barron being added to the training squad as a contingency alongside Herring, Stewart and Kelleher. Obviously, if Kelleher isn't ready for Samoa then they'd be one injury in training from only having one fit hooker. Hence Barron coming from nowhere.

Healy has been scrummaging at hooker as well as TH in training due to the change in laws around uncontested scrums. If you don't have a registered specialist available in a front row position due to multiple injuries or cards then you drop down to 14 men (or less if someone is carded!) when going uncontested now. Obviously, this is to prevent sides from faking injuries to get uncontested scrums. Healy has been training across the front row and is registered as being able to play all three positions for this reason on official teamsheets. I believe Finlay Bealham is still registered on teamsheets as able to play LH for the same reason despite moving to TH in 2015. An interesting example of this well oiled Ireland machine covering its bases.

Whether they'd want to consider Healy being on the bench for a group game is a different thing entirely of course. I rate Sheehan so highly I'd fit him in. Even if it meant losing a back row to fit Stewart in for hooker cover. Baird and Bierne can play blindside very well, whilst POM and Doris are versatile back rows themselves. I'd rather for instance have Kelleher covering flanker against Romania if needed than not have Sheehan for a RWC KO game.

Just as a general question.  Now that Healy has fairly recently played international test as a hooker. Surely if the situation arose with cards/injuries, he'd have to step into the '2' position as available cover (unless they claimed he was injured on the sideline!). As in, say it's a dominant SA pack and we go through our hookers early, we couldn't say uncontested and a man down could we (not that we'd want to, I'm just talking about the scenario), couldn't Rassie point at Healy and say to the ref, that guy is a Test level hooker he should come on? Is it really open to what paper work their own team submits?

I seem to remember a situation years ago with Steve Thompson (open to correction). He played a game at flanker for Saints. Saints lost both hookers and went uncontested even though there was a test level hooker packing down in the backrow.... (maybe that was the trigger for uncontested meaning you forfeit another player).

To my knowledge you can't do that if you have a player that is registered as being able to cover. Even if they are a third registered option in that position. So beyond the two specialists in each position that you must have in a 23 such as Healy covering hooker and TH as well as LH. Teams have to declare which positions front rows can cover on the official teamsheets before the game now.

World Rugby law 3.10: “Prior to the match, each team must advise the appropriate match official of their front-row players and possible front-row replacements and which position(s) in the front row they can play. Only these players may play in the front-row when the scrum is contested and only in their designated position(s).”

The rules have been clamped down on a lot to prevent teams cheating the system in various ways.

Thanks KC for the detailed info on the declarations about who can play where in the front row. Why do people say "its a simple game" when quite plainly that isn't the case

I can certainly see the argument for going with 4 hookers to accommodate Sheehan, but am not sure about the depth that leaves elsewhere. Decisions, decisions.

Ireland aren't my team so I may be off on some 50/50 calls around squad players, but just hypothetically:

1.Porter, Healy, Kilcoyne
2.Sheehan, Kelleher, Herring, Stewart
3.Furlong, Bealham, O'Toole
4.Bierne, Henderson
5.Ryan, Baird
6.POM, Prendergast
7.JvdF
8.Doris, Conan

9.JGP, Murray, Casey
10.Sexton, Byrne, Crowley

11.Lowe
12.Henshaw, Aki
13.Ringrose
14.Hansen, Earls
15.Keenan, O'Brien

That's a 19 forwards to 14 backs split which is the same as other squads named. It looks to have all bases covered still to me given the versatility of many quality players.

Looking at that, fitting a 4th hooker in would likely mean sacrificing an extra outside back (McCarthey or Stockdale?) if they would otherwise go with an 18-15 split. Or sacrificing an extra lock or back row (McCarthy?) if they would be going with a 19-14 split anyway.

king_carlos wrote:Ireland aren't my team so I may be off on some 50/50 calls around squad players, but just hypothetically:

1.Porter, Healy, Kilcoyne
2.Sheehan, Kelleher, Herring, Stewart
3.Furlong, Bealham, O'Toole
4. Jean Kleyn, Bierne, Henderson
5.Ryan, Baird
6.POM, Prendergast
7.JvdF
8.Doris, Conan

9.JGP, Murray, Casey
10.Sexton, Byrne, Crowley

11.Lowe
12.Henshaw, Aki
13.Ringrose
14.Hansen, Earls
15.Keenan, O'Brien

I think McCarthy will likely travel, he is a very big powerful guy, good back up to have.

I think McCarthy may lose out to Stewart given the Sheehan situation. If Sheehan was fit, then the extra lock/6 hybrid would be the obvious place to add depth.

Would love to see McCloskey instead of Aki, but that won't happen and we can't carry him as a specialist 12. Not sure on Earls, but more unsure if there is anyone else to take now Nash has been cut from the squad.

If it was me I would be taking McCarthy and McKloskey.

Not sure how I would feel picking injured players in the hope they may be fit enough at some point. I would bite the bullet and take the 3 who are available for the first game.

I've always felt McCloskey would miss out. Mainly due to being a specialist 12. Crowley can play there as well 10 and the same with Frawley who'll probably miss out too.
For me Crowley will be on the bench ahead of Byrne too. More versatile and just looks at ease in the green shirt.

Maine man wrote:I've always felt McCloskey would miss out. Mainly due to being a specialist 12. Crowley can play there as well 10 and the same with Frawley who'll probably miss out too.
For me Crowley will be on the bench ahead of Byrne too. More versatile and just looks at ease in the green shirt.

I think your right. Crowley just looks at ease on the pitch, at 10, 12 or 15. Which at a world cup will be a massive bonus

Ah, me paddy brothers.

Surely you fancy yourself to win the whole jamboree?

I do. In fact, I've put money on it.

George Carlin wrote:Ah, me paddy brothers.

Surely you fancy yourself to win the whole jamboree?

I do. In fact, I've put money on it.

I have also backed us to win it
But I'm also fully confident that it shall all go tits up

It strikes me there is a lot of hot air being expelled about the England and Ireland game when they whole thing could be summed up in one newspaper headline

RUSTY IRELAND COMFORTABLY DISPATCH A CLUELESS ENGLAND BY 5 TRIES TO 1.
maybe a sub heading
England again show poor tackling technique with a second red card in a week

Seriously is any further debate necessary?

I don't think Ireland will win it because of the horrendous draw.

Second best 2nd seed
Best 3rd seed
Theoretically third best 4th seed but with the players Tonga have renationalised I reckon they are more dangerous than Georgia and Somoa
Second best 5th seed

Added to that even the group draw is unfavourable.
If Scotland and South Africa matches had been the other way round they could have beaten Scotland and then rested against the Saffers.
This way they will have to go 100% against  the Saffers.

To cap it all they then have QF against one of the best best opponents.

I dont think they will cope with that.

The really annoying thing is if they had England draw they would make the Semi-Final without even needing top gear.

Farce of an early draw.

We're doomed I tell you doomed

Tonga look the best of the Pacific Islands (bar NZ), they actually have a good front 5. I feel this is where Fiji are lacking, but aside from that Fiji look class. Arguably, Samoa also have a good pack with the players they have coming back but their backs don't seem as good as the former two.

geoff999rugby wrote:I don't think Ireland will win it because of the horrendous draw.

Second best 2nd seed
Best 3rd seed
Theoretically third best 4th seed but with the players Tonga have renationalised I reckon they are more dangerous than Georgia and Somoa
Second best 5th seed

Added to that even the group draw is unfavourable.
If Scotland and South Africa matches had been the other way round they could have beaten Scotland and then rested against the Saffers.
This way they will have to go 100% against  the Saffers.

To cap it all they then have QF against one of the best best opponents.

I dont think they will cope with that.

The really annoying thing is if they had England draw they would make the Semi-Final without even needing top gear.

Farce of an early draw.

We're doomed I tell you doomed

Agreed, I mean there is a real chance that if they can avoid injuries Argentina could make the RWC final.

Fiji losing Api for the RWC to ensure a decent club contract is a big frustration. Yato missing too for the same reason is annoying but Fiji have better depth in the back row. Api partnering the impressive Mayanavanua at lock would potentially be their best ever second row pairing though.

Fiji's front row looks stronger than previously. Eroni Mawi has developed really well at Sarries, Luke Tagi is highly rated in France and Sam Matavesi is a good hooker.

Tonga getting so many lineout forwards back through the new laws is a massive boost for them. Coleman, Vaea Fifita and Timani. Their best back row should naturally have strong lineout jumpers. On the other hand they've lost Folau to injury which is a big blow. Moala to suspension too but with Pita Ahki and Fekitoa available they should still have a brutally physical centre partnership.

Georgia have lots of good players, largely based in France, but since Milton Haig left and covid hammered them they have struggled as a unit. They have gone into some games in the past 4 years with very little prep. Hopefully time together pre comp here will help a lot.

Will Sheehan travel or will his recovery take too long?

The latest speculation based on somewhat positive comments from the coaching group is that they're willing to take a gamble on including him with a view to Sheehan being available for the crucial 4th pool match against Scotland on 7 October - over 6 weeks away.

That gamble is based in part on who they have as replacements and on standby.
Kelleher is still not training with the group with his hamstring injury being managed so it's likely he won't play a part in the upcoming match against Samoa. And possibly the first match against Romania. In which case, you'd have to question whether it would be wise to select him at all for the RWC 33 squad. But they may do so, on the basis that an injured player can be replaced.

So they need to get gametime/experience into possible replacements - Tom Stewart and Diarmuid Barron are the ones in consideration to back-up Rob Herring if one or both of Sheehan/Kelleher can't play.

As I understand it, Farrell intends to name his squad next Monday 28 Aug with the actual official WR deadline set on 31 August.

After that he's committed to his squad selection. Except if a player is injured and deemed necessary to be replaced by both Irish doctors and WR official medics. If Sheehan (or Kelleher) don't recover, they can be replaced.

So if neither Sheehan (highly unlikely) nor Kelleher (50/50) can't play in first pool match, Farrell will have to take 4 hookers - with Stewart the most likely to back up Herring as a starter against Romania on 9 Sept. A week later, on 16 Sept, they play Tonga before which they'll have to make a call on Kelleher. If he is ready, then possibly he and Stewart are in the match-day squad for Tonga, leaving Herring ready to start/bench against SA the following week on 23 Sept.

If Kelleher is not ready, they'll probably have to send Kelleher home, and call up Barron. Ideally, however, Sheehan makes better recovery and can play off the bench against SA to get some gametime, otherwise, he goes in cold two weeks later against Scotland on 7 Oct.

Kelleher's replacement can be any other player, so another back or forward may get selected, depending on Sheehan's recovery time. He's worth waiting for.

It's a.risk starting the tournament with only 2 fit hookers, if it were me unless Kelleher is fit for the opening pool game I wouldn't select him.
If Sheehan looks like he won't be untill after pool games I wouldn't take him, and select herring Stewart and baron.
Sheehan is absolutely top level hooker, but if he can't play he's no use to us

king_carlos wrote:Fiji losing Api for the RWC to ensure a decent club contract is a big frustration. Yato missing too for the same reason is annoying but Fiji have better depth in the back row. Api partnering the impressive Mayanavanua at lock would potentially be their best ever second row pairing though.

Fiji's front row looks stronger than previously. Eroni Mawi has developed really well at Sarries, Luke Tagi is highly rated in France and Sam Matavesi is a good hooker.

Tonga getting so many lineout forwards back through the new laws is a massive boost for them. Coleman, Vaea Fifita and Timani. Their best back row should naturally have strong lineout jumpers. On the other hand they've lost Folau to injury which is a big blow. Moala to suspension too but with Pita Ahki and Fekitoa available they should still have a brutally physical centre partnership.

Georgia have lots of good players, largely based in France, but since Milton Haig left and covid hammered them they have struggled as a unit. They have gone into some games in the past 4 years with very little prep. Hopefully time together pre comp here will help a lot.

I don't know where you're getting that regarding Georgia? They've recently beaten both Italy and Wales away from home, along with their continued domination of European their 2 teams. Haig brought Georgia to a certain point but stayed in the job too long and ended up holding Georgian rugby back with his outdated tactics. They are now playing a good brand of rugby with their young talented backs.

I've seen Georgian fans referring to this team as their golden generation and I'd agree with them. Plenty of people are picking them to upset Aus or Wales in this world cup, that group is actually very interesting.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Georgia have lots of good players, largely based in France, but since Milton Haig left and covid hammered them they have struggled as a unit. They have gone into some games in the past 4 years with very little prep. Hopefully time together pre comp here will help a lot.

I don't know where you're getting that regarding Georgia? They've recently beaten both Italy and Wales away from home, along with their continued domination of European their 2 teams. Haig brought Georgia to a certain point but stayed in the job too long and ended up holding Georgian rugby back with his outdated tactics. They are now playing a good brand of rugby with their young talented backs.

I've seen Georgian fans referring to this team as their golden generation and I'd agree with them. Plenty of people are picking them to upset Aus or Wales in this world cup, that group is actually very interesting.

When Haig left Georgia had a few options to take over fall through (Ackermann first choice I believe) with Miasashvili being promoted to caretaker head coach fairly reluctantly as they were about a fortnight from their next match. Then it's well documented how covid further complicated that coach search as well as hammering poorer teams. They struggled to get the desired players in camp at times and hence fitness proved a big issue in some games.

Retirements from the 2019 squad also hit certain areas hard. Especially second row. With Nemsadze and Sutiashvili retiring, Kote Mikautadze having numerous injuries and former talisman Gorgodze (by then covering lock) also retiring they basically lost all their established locks for a time.

As said they have many fantastic players. Niniashvili is a spectacular talent. Beka Gorgadze and Guram Gogichasvili deserve to be in discussions with the best 8s and LHs in the world. Lobzhanidze and Abzhandadze are the best Georgian halfback pairing I've seen. Beka Gigashvili is a terrific TH that's been in great form with Toulon. Skipper Merab Shirakadze has done a cracking job taking over from Davit Kacharava running their defence too.

Maisashvili being a promoted attack coach has certainly helped them develop a more rounded game. It's been far from plain sailing for Georgia between these two RWCs though.

Having so many talented players not just in France, but there from a young age in those strong coaching systems is a great thing for Georgian rugby though. Lobzhanidze and Abzhandadze were in the same Brive setup and each arrived there at 20-years-old of instance.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them cause an upset in the group stages either. Simply alluding to Georgian rugby having shared some of the challenges that the Pacific Isles sides face since the previous RWC.