Cian Healy clearly didn't get the memo. Joe Schmidt's time in Ireland has been notable for many things - one of which has been the public downplaying of expectations.
This has intensified as Schmidt took over from Ireland ahead of both of Ireland Six Nations' victories. Captain Paul O'Connell has echoed Schmidt's sentiment and played down expectations for Ireland's World Cup campaign, but now Cian Healy has announced that Ireland have every chance of winning the tournament:
Under the ‘Joe Show’, and the attitude everyone has, I'd have no qualms in saying we're going into it to win it.
You've got to love that enthusiasm. It's not hard to see why the back to back Six Nations champions, who are ranked third in the world and have a route to the final where they won't meet someone ranked underneath them until the final would lead Healy to this conclusion.
There is a word of caution though from Paul O'Connell's previous downplaying. Healy wasn't around for the fiasco from the 2007 World Cup that was preceded by some lofty proclamations from the Irish camp.
Healy, though, is focusing on the mentality in the camp for the reason for his optimism.
There's nothing else is on our mentality. We've gone from strength to strength. Every player loves being in there, and the environment is amazing.
While it's good to have our players with big ambitions and full of confidence, perhaps we should all lower our expectations.
Healy was talking at a launch for Flexiseq sport ointment at an event in Dublin, and reassured fans that he should return from neck surgery in time for the World Cup:
I’ve already started rehab work and body weight work. It’s depressing but it’s working towards being able to do a push-up.
Healy is predicting that he will resume full scrummaging training on his neck by late July, which gives him plenty of time to come back for all of Ireland's World Cup warm up games.
There’s going to be something going wrong for me to not make it. From now there’s not much that can go wrong. The surgery was successful.
Which is big news considering his world class ability and importance to Ireland's chances.
See Also: Paul O'Connell Explains Why Ireland Only Have A 'Slim Chance' Of World Cup Glory
See Also: Dick Spring Explains Just How Close Ireland Are To Winning The Rugby World Cup Bid
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Photo Credit Brendan Moran /Sportsfile
