I bumped into Paddy Power the other day. Although he did his absolute best to conceal it, The Space Between My Ears (my brain) detected something of a smug expression on his visage. It would appear that he seems confident of holding onto the twenty euro that I recently wagered with him on The Home Country doing the business in Japan.

Next up Samoa. We’re expected to beat them. We were expected to beat Japan.

After the initial demolition job on the Scots we were then ruthlessly put to the sword by The Samurai Men.

Russia came and Russia went. We got the bonus point win but there was sceptism from the analysts. Doubt is everywhere.

Can we do it?

All things being fair in love,war and rugby, we should take care of Samoa.

All of which leads to The Quarter Final Showdown.

Rugby World Cup quarter finals and Ireland are a match that was most certainly not made in Heaven. It would appear more likely that this coupling happened in the very hot place with lots of flames.

There have been eight previous Rugby World Cups before the current extravaganza. Not once have Ireland reached the semi finals.

Ominously it’s looking like we will face the New Zealand All Blacks this time around. Defending champions, the All Blacks hail from a country where rugby is a religion, a science and an obsession all rolled into one.

Up to recently Ireland had never beaten the All Blacks, however in two of their last three meetings The Boys In Green have emerged victorious.

So can we do it?

In Joe I trust.