Ireland Star Josh van der Flier Capped World's Best Male RWC Player

Ireland Rugby World Cup Player flanker Josh van der Flier was topped the world's best male rugby player at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco on Sunday. Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier was capped as the world's best male rugby player at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco on Sunday. Three Irish players now have won the prize, including legendary hooker Keith Wood and fellow 2022 candidate Johnny Sexton.

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French captain Antoine Dupont was looking to become just the third player to win the award in successive years, but the star halfback was unsuccessful. All Blacks greats Richie McCaw and Beauden Barrett are the only two players in past to accomplish that feat. The other 2022 nominee was South Africa's Lukhanyo Am, who only played a trickle of test competitions this year.

Ireland Rugby World Cup

Ireland over its international season with a thrilling 13-10 win over Australia in Dublin - but van der Flier's influence just shows how good he is. The Irish enforcer made an astounding 24 tackles against the Wallabies, as the 29-year-old off what was his best year in green.

"I've been incredibly privileged to have great teammates and that have really pushed me on, as well as my wife and my family secondary me a huge amount," van der Flier said after winning the award. "Especially from teammates, I'm lucky to have some very top-quality players, particularly in my position, both in Ireland and in Leinster.

"I've always felt I've needed to be playing at my best the whole time, or I wouldn't be playing, so that's certainly driven me on."

Van der Flier played a key part in Ireland's series

Van der Flier played a key part in Ireland's series win over the All Blacks earlier this year - their first in New Zealand. The flanker scored Ireland's first try in the determining test in Wellington, and he also made 23 tackles throughout the 32-22 win.

When asked to locate a highlight from the year that was, van der Flier spoke about the win over the All Blacks - before quickly backpedaling.

"It's been great," he said. "Any of the games we've won with the team, I think clearly to win over in New Zealand would be right up there in footings of rugby. My wife's sitting there staring at me, so I'd have to say I got married in August so that perhaps has to be up the top."

Ireland has never made it past the rounds at a Rugby World Cup, but the team is under more pressure than ever before to develop to the semis, and beyond, at next year's competition. Van der Flier trusts his side, which is ranked No. 1 in the world, is "where every team wants to be" going into a World Cup year. To know more about Ireland Vs Scotland Tickets click here.

"It's where every team wants to be," Van der Flier said. "You don't have that underdog status coming into games, but it's where we want to be. It's kind of the goal we've set for ourselves - performing at our best. We feel if we can do that, then we should be hopefully right up the top. Certainly, we're very motivated for the next year ahead. It'll be an exciting one."

Ireland’s Chances of Winning the Rugby World Cup in 2023

If you're Irish, I bet you are rational that the results are previously in for the Rugby World Cup 2023, given the form of the Irish in 2022.

Only Les Blues could tire the Irish in the 2022 Six Nations which saw the Irish take second place. The 2022 Summer Internationals saw the Irish go depressed to the Maori All Blacks in their warm-up game 32-17. This was a stripping result for the Irish, who went down in the next match to the All Blacks 42 – 19. The Irish came back with revenge, thrashing the Maori All Blacks in a reply and then going on to two wins against the All Blacks to win their series two to one.

Currently, Ireland is in first place concerning the world rankings. This must be a clear indicator of the option that Ireland can win the Rugby World Cup 2023.

Current Men’s Rugby World Rankings

1	(1)	Ireland	90.03
2	(2)	France	89.41
3	(3)	South Africa	87.78
4	(4)	New Zealand	87.76
5	(5)	England	86.25
6	(6)	Scotland	81.93
7	(7)	Australia	81.65
8	(8)	Wales	81.28
9	(9)	Argentina	80.97
10	(10)	Japan	77.74

 Ireland's Assets

Johnny Sexton is Ireland's talisman, and with him, they achieve extraordinary things; without him, they seem to fall apart. At 37, he is no spring chicken, and he is very prone to wounds. Can they keep him fit for the World Cup?

In recent internet polls, Ireland's Coach, Andy Farrell has been chosen as the number-one coach in world rugby. With the best squad in the world, the best coach, and the luck of the Irish with their talisman, confidently this Rugby World Cup is a shoo-in for Ireland.

The pundits are saying then. They have France as 5/2 favorites, given their form and that the fact they are hosting the World Cup in France. New Zealand is the second favorite at 3/1, with England, South Africa, and Ireland all equal at 5/1.

Let me play devil’s advocate. Three things will affect Ireland’s winning the world cup:

1.       Underwhelming history in the rivalry.

2.       Psyche of the Irish.

3.       Getting depth through inexpert players.

Their past shows that Ireland in past World Cups has at best got to the quarter-final phases seven times out of nine attempts (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015, and 2019). In this World Cup, it will be vitally significant to come top of pool B if they are to progress and win the world cup. In the opening match, they play present World Cup holders, South Africa. If they come second in pool B, they will face France, and I trust that would be game-over for Ireland.

Pool B

1.       Ireland

2.       South Africa

3.       Scotland

4.       Romania

5.       Tonga

Ireland's Liabilities

Ireland has the players, the coach, and the ranking; so what is it that stops them from charming the Rugby World Cup? There could be somewhat wrong with Ireland's psychological approach to World Cup tournaments if they are always departing stage right. You could argue that there is somewhat deeply embedded in the culture of Irish rugby that is preventing Ireland from execution at their best on the wolfram d’s most significant stage. To know more about South Africa Vs Ireland Tickets click here.

Freud once stated 'This is one race of persons for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever.' Perhaps Freud imagined this was due to the Irish having too much arrogance to be introspective, but whatever the reason, it is somewhat what is holding back the team, given that today's rugby is about analysis, analysis, and analysis. Numerous coaches have tried to present more of a psychological constituent to their game, but all have failed to date. The Irish seem to be a mass of contradictions, impervious to the rational thought processes that might determine them.

RWC 2023

You could also look at Johnny Sexton as a liability. While he is surely a strength to the team when he can play, should he get hurt, the Irish may find themselves in hot water. They seem to lack depth for his location, so if he goes, the luck of the Irish may go too.

Ireland is all about charming in the short term, which has so far been a recipe for success. This attitude, however, has motionless new blood coming through the ranks. They need to start encouraging new talent who can take over from the old protector. This would mean taking a hit in the short term, a few losses in friendly rivalries being inevitable, but then this would seem a relatively small price to pay to save their upcoming. It is not going to happen though. Ireland does not trust they are broken so they are not going to fix it.

Could Ireland win the 2023 Rugby World Cup? Of course, it is likely, but I believe they are too rooted in their ways to do what is vital to secure the Webb Ellis trophy. It would be great for the Rugby World Cup Betting fans to timepiece the men in green grab the final glory, but I think just like the odds over at the beginning Ireland. i.e. that the likes of France or South Africa are more likely to come away from the World Cup with beams on their expressions.

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