Ireland are warned that they are the team EVERYONE wants to beat by veteran Peter O’Mahony ahead of World Cup opener against Romania

Ireland kick off the Rugby World Cup on Saturday with a stark warning from veteran Peter O’Mahony: they are the team everyone wants to beat.

Their opener against Romania will present few challenges on the pitch, but with a tough battle against South Africa now just two weeks away, and Scotland also battling to escape the tournament’s group of death, says O’ Mahony that the reality of being the world No. 1 team is showing up. The indifferent form in their three warm-up games was partly to do with their opponents raising their game, he claimed, a reflection of Ireland’s unprecedented status.

“It’s just been a reminder, which is great for a World Cup, that teams will be at their very best, and especially now that we’re number one in the world, we’ve got a big target behind us. There’s no point in saying it any other way,” the flanker said.

“So any team you play against will do their utmost to knock you down, and I think it’s been a good reminder for us over the last few weeks of the different types of games and the way we have to approach them. that we have to arrange everything from minute one to minute 80.’

World Rugby, the tournament’s organizers, confirmed on Friday evening that there will be water breaks at the Stade de Bordeaux on Saturday afternoon (KO 2.30pm Irish time), with temperatures expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius. The Irish camp have also insisted that Mack Hansen’s omission from matchday 23 is not for disciplinary reasons. The Connacht winger is Farrell’s only available frontliner who will not feature in today’s match.

The Irish start their campaign against Romania on Saturday with high expectations for the competition

Romania is unlikely to be a challenge for Ireland, but bigger tests will come in the pool matches