'It does feel unfair': Irish rugby pundits on whether they deserve the choker tag

After a tough 28-24 quarter-final exit at the hands of New Zealand, Ireland has been left to swallow a bitter pill after being the world’s number one side riding a 17-game winning streak.

The second straight quarter-final defeat to the All Blacks came after a historic period of success for Ireland including a series win down in New Zealand.

Former Irish international Shane Horgan was blunt about the way Ireland would be viewed overseas as chokers despite having such a sustained period of winning and achievements.

He viewed Ireland as one of the ‘most progressive’ teams in world rugby that has made historic achievements and don’t deserve the tag.

“I think you have to assess it in a sophisticated way,” Horgan said on Virgin Media Sport.

“But brass tacks, a lot of what you said is correct, and to be honest with you outside of Ireland that’s how it’s going to be assessed.

“Unfortunately that’s the way it’s going to be until Ireland get to a semi-final, because what does number one in the world count for now.

“That’s what everyone will be saying. Do New Zealand think Ireland are number one in the world now? Did it matter in the last two years?

“Now it did matter, I think that is a significant achievement, I’m not undervaluing anything Ireland have done in the last two years, I think it has been brilliant.

“I’ve loved the way they’ve played, they are if not one of the most progressive teams.

“To win a tour in New Zealand, which is scarcely believable from when I started rugby. Demolished the teams in the Autumn internationals, won a Grand Slam, its an incredible achievement.

“Played brilliantly in the pool stages of the World Cup and we are proud of the way they played.

“But in a World Cup it is a binary game, isn’t it? You either win or you lose. Unfortunately like every other Irish team before, we got bounced out at the quarter-finals.”

Australian coach Matt Williams agreed with Horgan’s sentiment that the result doesn’t undermine the body of work that the team has completed.

He believed the series win over the All Blacks meant more than the world rankings which were flawed.

“I don’t think it undermines the last couple of years,” Williams said.

“I don’t rate the world rankings because they are not even, because not everyone is playing each other.

“Ireland world number one, ok that’s great. We know they are a great team. I put the win in New Zealand more highly than ranked number one.

“Because as Shane said, it’s absolutely historic. It’s only been done three times in history.

“We shouldn’t take anything away from this team. I think that’s unfair. And remember, New Zealand are going to make the final.

“They’re not necessarily going to win it, but they are going to make a final.

“That is our game. Whoever is world champion gets the William Webb Ellis trophy for four years. And they are the best.

“South Africa have still got it and it’s up to someone to take it off them.”

Horgan believed that the result was ‘unfair’ for Ireland have been pitted against a top four team at the quarter-final stage.

The quality of the side they had deserved a shot in the semi-finals or final he argued.

“It does feel unfair that this team isn’t getting their just desserts,” Horgan said.

“And maybe their just desserts wasn’t winning a World Cup, maybe it wasn’t. But it was getting out of a quarter-final. And now Argentina have.

“Not whining about the World Cup draw, ok this is going to happen, there have been other years where there has been groups that have been stacked.

“It feels more outrageous than ever before this year, but it is what it is. What I’m saying is they are a better team than quarter-finalist at a World Cup.

“They deserve to have a shot in a semi-final or a final. They just did. Because of the draw they are not going to have the four best teams in the semi-finals.”