And that takes us back to that 11-lettered, four-syllabled word which can be heavier than a Toulouse pack...expectation.

Because Ireland - the best team in the northern hemisphere - are not only expected by many of their supporters to cruise into the last eight, but also to reach the last four.

Ireland have already picked off Canada and Romania with consummate ease, are fancied to do the same against Italy today, thus setting up an almighty scrap with France for the right to top Pool D.

That honour, of course, would mean avoiding the All Blacks in the last eight, setting up an easy path into the semi-finals. In theory at least...

Image source, Reuters

But we've been here before, haven't we? Ireland's 'golden generation' were expected to go deep into the 2007 World Cup - then got pitched alongside France and Argentina in that tournament's Group of Death. And Eddie O'Sullivan's side were bludgeoned by their pool rivals.

Failure to reach the knockout stage in France remains Ireland's worst performance at a World Cup. Eight years later, they will match their best by beating Italy today and reaching the quarter-finals.

Image source, Getty Images

Expectation is omnipresent in elite sport. Expectation from the media. Expectation from your supporters. Expectation from the players themselves.

Some nations have shown they can cope and thrive under this lead-like weight. The All Blacks at the last World Cup, for example. Others, like *cough cough* England, have crumbled.

Ireland, unlike those two examples, are not burdened by being the host nation. But back-to-back Six Nations mean the millions watching from across the Irish Sea - and around the world - are expecting Joe Schmidt's side to produce their nation's best World Cup performance.

Some - gulp - even reckon they are going to win it...

Image source, Reuters