Keith Wood rubbishes claims of Ireland peaking too early

Legendary Irish hooker Keith Wood has weighed in on the debate surrounding his countrymen once again peaking too early ahead of the World Cup, saying that Andy Farrell’s charges should approach the tournament with full confidence in their ability. 

The current crop if Irish representatives became the first of their kind to leave New Zealand shores with a series victory in the pocket and have since been the talk of the rugby town. However, Ireland’s somewhat unfortunate World Cup past has been brought up with high volume, highlighting the fact that they appear to have made a habit of delivering their best form between the contest for the Webb Ellis Cup instead of at the tournament itself.  

 Wood, however, has dismissed such notions. 

“The players have to enjoy it,” he said on Monday Night Rugby. “It has put a huge target on their back and I would hope that this particular group would relish that target. 

“Who is to say it’s the peak? We just know that this is the highest level that they are at at the moment. Who is to say that that’s the Everest of this group?” 

“We shouldn’t fear anyone. We shouldn’t fear ourselves either. Ourselves being the not great performance in the first match, we shouldn’t fear that we are able to turn that around. 

“That’s one of the things I really liked. The structure of this tour was so bloody awkward, horrible and hard that it mirrors what a World Cup is like. 

“I take an awful lot from it, and I do think a lot is different because of that.” 

Would also lashed out at those who would belittle Ireland’s achievement, citing it as mere victories in friendly matches. 

“It drives me absolutely mad!” he said. “I’ve heard people saying that ‘they are only friendly matches’, which just gives a fairly high lack of understanding of what touring in rugby has been for over 100 years. 

“The magnitude of what has been done is truly extraordinary! It is for a moment in time. My sons were asking me at the final whistle why I was so excited. I said, ‘because it is history’. 

“Watching history unfold in front of you is pretty phenomenal, especially when it is going your way.”