Irish to deliver this time on great expectations
The Irish are favoured to top Pool D – against France, Canada, Italy and Romania – and reach the semifinals for the first time, continuing their extraordinary rise under New Zealand coach Joe Schmidt.
However, O'Connell has been down this road before. Great expectations were smashed to smithereens in 2007 when the Irish arrived as Six Nations Triple Crown winners (beating England, Scotland and Wales) and exited at the first stage, narrowly escaping a first ever defeat to minnows Georgia.
"Certainly in 2007 we got engulfed with the expectation of the World Cup and we felt that we had to say we had a chance of winning it, to make ourselves believe it," the 35-year-old O'Connell told the Irish Independent.
"We had such high hopes. Unfortunately, we didn't perform at all, we didn't do what we did in 2011 when we played well but lost to a good Welsh team. We just completely flopped and didn't perform at all. It was just a really disappointing experience in every way.
"But I think going into this one we know that we can put ourselves in with a chance.
"It's a slim chance and it's an outside chance. It has worked really well for us in the last 18 months under Joe, not getting too obsessed with the bigger picture and focusing on the here and now," added O'Connell, who has captained the Irish to back to back Six Nations title success, only the second Ireland team to achieve that.
A big win in their opening game over Canada would set the right tone as it would for France, their biggest rivals for top spot, over Italy also on Saturday.
Expectations are low for France's chances of lifting the trophy for the first time, after defeats in three finals including an unlucky 8-7 loss to the All Blacks in 2011, would be an understatement.
Much optimism greeted the arrival of former France captain and dashing wing Philippe Saint-Andre when he replaced Marc Lievremont following the 2011 World Cup.
However, four years on and while people are not nostalgic for the Lievremont era, they are not regretting the fact Saint-Andre will step down after the campaign is over – even if France win.
Saint-Andre, though, remains upbeat about the French hopes of defying the odds, although he will have to beat Ireland for the first time in his time in charge after two draws and two narrow defeats.
"One has to go there with the enthusiasm of the top of the class, as well as an unbelievable hunger and determination," said Saint-Andre, whose overall record reads 17 wins, two draws and 21 defeats.
"There is no brake in our hands, no limits to be respected.
"We are progressing, we are content with what we are doing and we will prepare ourselves to win the World Cup, even if I will not say to you that we will be world champions," added the 48-year-old.
Of the others Italy start with a major handicap of not having their one world class player captain Sergio Parisse available for the France match and also claims that there is discord within the camp with French coach Jacques Brunel not talking to the players.
If the Italians are in disarray that can at least give some hope to the rugged Canadians of securing a win although for the once proud Romanians simply limiting the damage in all their games may be the best they can hope for.
Agence France-Presse
