The 'pretty ambitious' warning Samoa have issued to England and co

Ireland are genuine contenders to lift the Rugby World Cup and will go really deep in the competition, according to Samoa and Leinster assistant coach Andrew Goodman. Andy Farrell is bidding to take Ireland beyond the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time on the back of leading his side to the top of the global rankings.

New Zealander Goodman watched from the sidelines on Saturday evening in Bayonne as the Irish stretched their winning run to 13 matches with a narrow 17-13 success over Samoa.

The 40-year-old former Leinster player, who has been working with the Pacific island nation since 2021, has connections with many of Ireland’s squad having returned to the Dublin-based province last year to assist Leo Cullen.

Asked if Ireland are serious challengers for the Webb Ellis Cup, he replied: “Definitely, they have been playing outstanding footy. They have shown it against teams from both hemispheres.

“The way they have been able to adapt their game to different styles depending on who they are playing and weather conditions and all things like that, they have got a really balanced squad at the moment so they will go really deep.

“Without my Samoan head on and my New Zealand head on, I’m hoping they go really well with the connections I have got in that squad.”

Samoa caused Ireland plenty of problems at Stade Jean Dauger and are seeking to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time since 1995.

Seilala Mapusua’s squad has been strengthened by the inclusion of former All Blacks Charlie Faumuina, Steve Luatua and Lima Sopoaga and ex-Australia fly-half Christian Leali’ifano following a change in eligibility laws.

Samoa are in Pool D alongside England, Argentina, Japan and debutants Chile. “The experiences those boys bring back to our environment have been great,” said Goodman. “Strongest Samoan team in the professional era? We will have to wait and see.

“But we certainly want it to be and we are certainly aiming to get out of the pool because it hasn’t happened for a long time, so we are pretty ambitious.”