His focus from the start was the World Cup, something that is his raison d’être as a coach. It is all about winning the Webb Ellis Cup and each match has been planned for with precision. IrelandTop of the world rankings at the start of the tournament, whirled around by Japan last Saturday and left in a spin. “The game against Japan will be massive but only if we turn up against Russia,” said Hastings. “If we do not win our next three games, I will be unbelievably disappointed,” said their defence coach, Shaun Edwards.

Source: The Guardian October 06, 2019 07:59 UTC