Brian O’Driscoll is convinced that Ireland is ready to host the Rugby World Cup and the former international captain believes that staging the prestigious tournament will continue to unite the country.
Ireland is bidding to host Rugby World Cup 2023 and the former Leinster centre, working as an ambassador for the Irish bid, believes that the country is capable of hosting a very memorable tournament thanks to the island's welcoming reputation throughout the world.
“I think rugby unites the country,” O’Driscoll told RTE Sport. "I have seen the cohesion between the north and south governments in wanting to make this happen.
“We’ve seen that for a number of years and the excitement being generated on both sides is palpable, because we are absolutely capable of doing this and capable of doing a phenomenal job.
“Not just capable of delivering something that might be accepted but capable of delivering something where people will be sent away with fantastic memories of an incredible welcome, and a country embracing a tournament like maybe something they haven’t seen before.
“We’ll never be more ready to host a tournament like this. This is not about having a go now to host it in 15 or 20 years’ time. We’re ready now so I hope World Rugby give us our opportunity.”
O’Driscoll also believes that the Ireland bid could not have been better timed as the international team are coming off the back of defeating world champions New Zealand, which should resonate with the decision makers in World Rugby.
“We’ve gone and beaten the two-time world champions, the team that was seen as unbeatable after an 18 or 19-game run.
“That is definitely positioning us well and keeping us in the forefront of World Rugby’s minds that we’re a big player now at international level and there is no reason that won’t continue in years to come when it does get to hosting a tournament in 2023.
“Realistically, we’re not going to host a soccer World Cup, we’re not going to host an Olympics; this is the biggest tournament that we are capable of hosting in the world.”
Ireland will go up against South Africa and France in their big to stage the 2023 event, and with both countries having previously held the event, O’Driscoll is not daunted about the chances of beating either side to the coveted honour.
“We’re as well equipped as we could possibly be for,” said O’Driscoll. “A huge amount of work has gone in from a logistical point of view to get us to this point to be an accepted bid nomination along with France and South Africa, two nations that have hosted the World Cup before.
“So I don’t know if that is a strength or weakness of ours. Breaking new ground, you’d be hopeful would be on World Rugby’s radar. Our close proximity to London and the market there as well has to be a bonus.
“One of the real strong points in Ireland is the warm welcome people get from the moment they step off the plane to the moment that they go home.
“'Céad, míle, fáilte' is a phrase for a reason, because both north and south, the welcome is phenomenal and in seeing how sport has unified the country, particularly via rugby, speaks volumes for where we are in hosting a massive tournament like this and how well it would be received throughout the five and a half or six million people on both sides of that border.”
O’Driscoll also believes that international teams’ appreciation of playing rugby in Ireland will also stand to the 2023 bid, which will be showcased on Saturday as Ireland play the All Blacks in Dublin.
“The All Blacks who are licking their wounds are still looking forward to coming to Ireland because they know that it will be a relatively hostile environment but a very friendly environment when they are not playing the game. And that’s what foreigners look forward to.
“I spoke to [former Australian scrum-half] George Gregan about his love of Ireland and how they always embrace the challenge of coming and playing a tough test match, but more so coming and enjoying what Ireland has to offer, which is plenty-fold.”
And looking ahead to Saturday’s match with New Zealand, O’Driscoll believes that it will be a tough task to complete back-to-back victories, but not an impossible one against an All Blacks side intent of seeking revenge.
“We’ve got a great chance again. The expectation to win might be people getting ahead of themselves. But we won’t be far away on the final whistle.
“If we can stay early with them and start well, that is key against the All Blacks. As soon as they get into their rhythm they are very, very difficult to stop. But they are licking their wounds and, speaking to a couple of them, they are ready to come over here and put things right.”
