Forget the Six Nations... Ireland's real test is coming this summer

Six Nations champions Ireland have never been in better shape and with the 2019 Rugby World Cup a mere 546 days away, this could be the best realistic chance they’ve had to achieve success in the tournament.

The last time Ireland were Grand Slam champions, in 2009, they began the 2008 Autumn series eighth in the world rankings and scrambling to cling on to that top-eight spot, with the draw for the 2011 World Cup on the horizon.

Contrast that with the 2018 Grand Slam vintage, who are second in the World Rugby rankings, with only the All Blacks ahead of them. Joe Schmidt’s side are on a 12-match unbeaten run – which included a record 38-3 win over South Africa in the Autumn, albeit the Springboks were somewhat a shambles and head coach Allister Coetzee was on his last legs.

South Africa are potential quarter-final opponents in the 2019 World Cup, with Ireland favourites to emerge as Pool A winners, ahead of Scotland and Japan, while Rassie Erasmus’ side are unlikely to usurp New Zealand for top spot in Pool B.

The Springboks are an interesting prospect, Erasmus led Munster to last year’s Pro 12 final and the semi-finals of the Champions Cup. His insight into Irish rugby and their players is something to be wary of and he’s already said he wants to “mount a serious challenge” at next year’s World Cup. SA Rugby are certainly backing their man, handing him a contract running until the 2023 World Cup.

If they got there, semi-final opponents for Ireland would come in the form of England, France, Argentina, Australia or Wales, with New Zealand likely to primed and ready in the final.

But a dose of reality is needed, Ireland have never been beyond a World Cup quarter-final in their history. Since the turn of the Millennium there were last eight defeats to Argentina in 2015, Wales in 2011 and France in 2003, while 2007 saw them fail to get out of the group.

Expectation levels have skyrocketed after completing the Six Nations Grand Slam, but in order to really stake a claim to being genuine World Cup contenders they must win their three-match series against Australia.

They begin on June 9th at the intimidating Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with the second Test in Melbourne a week later, finishing in Sydney on June 23rd – it’s a hectic three-week schedule and one that will see Schmidt learn a lot about younger players and they about themselves. Remarkably eight of the Grand Slam winning squad have never tasted an international defeat – Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour, Dan Leavy, James Ryan, Andrew Porter, Bundee Aki, Chris Farrell and Jacob Stockdale.

Ireland young guns Larmour and Carbery target further success

Touring the southern hemisphere brings massive challenges, in June 2012 Ireland narrowly lost 22-19 to New Zealand in Christchurch, with Dan Carter slotting over a last minute drop goal. A week later they were thumped 60-0 in Hamilton, the countries worst ever defeat. Seven of the XV that day – Rob Kearney, Keith Earls, Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray, Cian Healy, Rory Best and Peter O’Mahoney – all started against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Those dark days of trouncing’s at the hands of Southern Hemisphere behemoths may be over, but they certainly left an indelible mark on Ireland’s more experienced members. Victory over New Zealand in Chicago in 2016 cleared what may have been a residual mental barrier. Now the next hurdle for this team is to win a series in the southern hemisphere, they butchered their chance in South Africa in 2016, winning in Australia won’t be easier either. 1979 was the last time Ireland won away against the Wallabies, they won both tour matches on that occasion. If they were to emerge with a series success almost 40 years later, the rest of the rugby world to really have to sit up and take notice with the World Cup a little over a year away.