A Brilliant Choice Of Venues

I cannot speak on behalf of the rest of the Emerald Isle, but I do not think that the Oirish rugby contingent can have too many complaints about the choice of venues allocated for Ireland's Rugby World Cup group matches in 2015. With two such encounters scheduled for the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, this is a good omen for those of a superstitious inclination.

Ireland do after all have a remarkable record of only two defeats in the principality in the last thirty years, while the Millennium Stadium was the scene for a Munster Heineken Cup Final victory and a Leinster Heineken Cup Final victory, and more particularly this marvellous venue was also a reluctant host to Ireland's grand slam triumph of 2009, not to mention Ireland's best Six Nations effort of 2013. Therefore, to state that Ireland are comfortable playing at the Millennium Stadium is perhaps something of an under-statement. Of particular relish will be the group finale between France and the Irish in this very arena.

As well as two contests in Cardiff, Ireland are also required to engage in a couple of skirmishes in London, namely one at Wembley Stadium and one at the Olympic Stadium. These encounters should appeal to the large constituency of Irish exiles who have fled the motherland for the large metropolis on the Thames. Furthermore, there is no shortage of London airports to choose from for those spectators who will have to commute from across the Irish Sea. However, above all, it is good to see that Ireland have been acknowledged as a big draw in rugby union circles and that they haven't been fobbed off to the more humble venues of Exeter or Gloucester.

Now that the men in green have been deservedly awarded group matches in the big arenas, let us hope that the national team this time belatedly produces performances which do justice not only to themselves but to the well-chosen stadiums. The provisional [and not completely finalised] fixtures are found below. Bring on 2015!

Pool A

Fri 18 Sep - England v Oceania 1 (Twickenham)

Sun 20 Sep - Wales v Play-off winner (Cardiff)

Wed 23 Sep - Australia v Oceania 1 (Cardiff)

Sat 26 Sep - England v Wales (Twickenham)

Sun 27 Sep - Australia v Play-off winner (Villa Park)

Thu 1 Oct - Wales v Oceania 1 (Cardiff)

Sat 3 Oct - England v Australia (Twickenham)

Tue 6 Oct - Play-off winner v Oceania 1 (Milton Keynes)

Sat 10 Oct - Australia v Wales (Twickenham)

Sat 10 Oct - England v Play-off winner (Manchester)

Pool B

Sat 19 Sep - South Africa v Asia 1 (Brighton)

Sun 20 Sep - Samoa v Americas 2 (Brighton)

Wed 23 Sep - Scotland v Asia 1 (Gloucester)

Sat 26 Sep - South Africa v Samoa (Birmingham)

Sun 27 Sep - Scotland v Americas 2 (Leeds)

Sat 3 Oct - Samoa v Asia 1 (Milton Keynes)

Sat 3 Oct - South Africa v Scotland (Newcastle)

Wed 7 Oct - South Africa v Americas 2 (Olympic Stadium)

Sat 10 Oct - Samoa v Scotland (Newcastle)

Sun 11 Oct - Americas 2 v Asia 1 (Gloucester)

Pool C

Sat 19 Sep - Tonga v Europe 1 (Gloucester)

Sun 20 Sep - New Zealand v Argentina (Wembley)

Thu 24 Sep - New Zealand v Africa 1 (Olympic Stadium)

Fri 25 Sep - Argentina v Europe 1 (Gloucester)

Tue 29 Sep - Tonga v Africa 1 (Exeter)

Fri 2 Oct - New Zealand v Europe 1 (Cardiff)

Sun 4 Oct - Argentina v Tonga (Leicester)

Wed 7 Oct - Africa 1 v Europe 1 (Exeter)

Fri 9 Oct - New Zealand v Tonga (Newcastle)

Sun 11 Oct - Argentina v Africa 1 (Leicester)

Pool D

Sat 19 Sep - Ireland v Americas 1 (Cardiff)

Sat 19 Sep - France v Italy (Twickenham)

Wed 23 Sep - France v Europe 2 (Olympic Stadium)

Sat 26 Sep - Italy v Americas 1 (Leeds)

Sun 27 Sep - Ireland v Europe 2 (Wembley Stadium)

Thu 1 Oct - France v Americas 1 (Milton Keynes)

Sun 4 Oct - Ireland v Italy (Olympic Stadium)

Tue 6 Oct - Americas 1 Europe 2 (Leicester)

Sun 11 Oct - Italy v Europe 2 ( Exeter)

Sun 11 Oct - France v Ireland (Cardiff)

Quarter-finals

Sat 17 Oct - Winner C v Second D (Cardiff)

Sat 17 Oct - Winner B v Second A (Twickenham)

Sun 18 Oct - Winner D v Second C (Cardiff)

Sun 18 Oct - Winner A v Second B (Twickenham)

Semi-finals

Sat 24 Oct - Winner C/Second D v Winner B/Second A (Twickenham)

Sun 25 Oct - Winner D /Second C v Winner A/Second B (Twickenham)

Finals

Fri 30 Oct - Bronze medal match (Olympic Stadium)

Sat 31 Oct - Final (Twickenham)