Ireland target RWC2015 semis

Ireland target RWC2015 semis

Ireland rugby coach Joe Schmidt, of New Zealand, has set his side the goal of a semi-final berth at next year's Rugby World Cup.

If successful, it would be the first time Ireland had finished so high in the four-yearly event.

Achieving that goal would something to be 'massively proud of', he said on Ireland's Late Late Show.

"If you make the semi-final, then you are one of four teams and you have a chance to go further and that would be fantastic," he said.

But before then Ireland have to negotiate the Six Nations and he is aiming high there too.

"To get a top two finish in the Six Nations this time around [would be good] but nothing is given out easily," he said.

Schmidt said there would be no surprises in his Six Nations squad when it is announced on Tuesday.

"We won't see two of the best loose forwards going around in Stephen Ferris and Sean O'Brien. Sean had an operation last Friday, he's likely to be out for four months and maybe beyond that," he said.

ireland are making some serious good inroads at the moment under kiwi coach smit.

if ireland want to make it to the 2015 RWC semis, then they will have to top their group D which also contains france, the runner up fo group D has to face the winner of group C which contains the All Blacks, and if u didnt know, the All Blacks are the on ly team in the world to have never lost a pool game.

if the irish do pull it off, it means the french and All Blacks to play in the quarter finals, wowsers, :o)

pitty about ferris and obrien, they are class players who will be missed for the upcoming 6nats campaign.

anyone know if sexton is playing??? both he and that little halfback conner murray will also be crucial.

Never say never Sasskke ..what ever you name is...A couple boys from Ohio  were told at school level not to day dream about flying...Thanx to those two boys(The Wright brothers) we have air travel today.

Fortunately in 2015 the All Blacks will not have played 13 Teams in a row on Tour before playing the Irish. I say, bring it on.

 hehehehe nice one Cloudy 

 Yeah. Richard Pearce was the first person to fly a "heavier than air" machine. 9 m onths before the Wright brothers. 3 guesses where the great Mr Pearce hails from? 

 Ironic is'nt it that the flightless Kiwis were the first ones to fly...thanks for the opportunity to showcase the old kiwi ingenuity there Arsezona.... 

Only a dumbarse would buy an encyclopaedia these days Arsezona...ever heard of the internet??? 

 Can you read?

 So what you edited yr post..wanna a medal soldier boy?