Can Ireland do it?

Outspoken pundit, and former England and Lions scrumhalf Austin Healey believes Ireland have a good chance of winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Healey reckons Ireland will breeze through their group, and if they manage to keep everyone fit, they can go all the way.

Speaking on BT Sport Rugby Tonight this week, Healy said:

“They’ve unearthed a few new players and that is probably the thing they needed the most,” Healey said.

“Ireland’s first choice team, particularly with the group they’ve got at the World Cup, means they are going to go through to the knockout stages. Then if they can keep everyone fit, they have a really good chance of winning the next World Cup.

“They are not going to be favourites, they aren’t going to be in the top four favourites but for me, they definitely are. They are going to win that group and they have some pace out wide now. Byrne, I thought, was particularly impressive. You have some size as well with Stockdale.

“Ireland had a very successful autumn, weren’t tested that much, but are really on the right road towards the World Cup.”

What do you think? Will 2019 finally be Ireland’s year?