‘Excited and looking forward to it’ were Ireland captain Paul O’Connell’s parting words as Joe Schmidt’s men boarded ‘Green Spirit’, the Aer Lingus Airbus 320, at Dublin Airport this evening to fly to Cardiff and begin their Rugby World Cup 2015 journey. Check out our photo gallery from the official send-off.
Click here to view photos of the Ireland players as the Aer Lingus staff give them a warm send-off before their opening Rugby World Cup game against Canada on Saturday.
Aer Lingus, the official airline of the Irish rugby team, has announced a number of ‘Smart Deals’ for Irish rugby fans travelling to support Ireland in the coming weeks in Cardiff and London. Check out www.aerlingus.com for more.
Speaking before the squad’s departure from Dublin, Paul O’Connell said: “It’s great to finally get on the plane, the other teams are over there already. Guys are fairly giddy, it’s like we’re going on a school tour!
“When the World Cup is on in New Zealand or Australia, you leave 10 days before it and get into the buzz of it, but we’re leaving three days before so I think a lot of guys are eager to get over there and sample the atmosphere.”
He added: “As an Irish team we haven’t always fulfilled our potential at World Cups, and that’s what I’d be eager to help the team do. I’m excited, I’m looking forward to it.
“I’m just intent on going there, enjoying it and trying to make sure I play to my potential and we play to our potential. Today adds to the buzz of the whole thing, getting on the bus at Carton House, coming out here and the reception we had.”
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