Friendly rivalry adds to occasion

It's a measure of Ireland's progress in this World Cup that today's quarter-final tie with England is one of the most eagerly anticipated Rugby League contests for some while.

Only 12 months ago the Irish side wasn't deemed good enough to give a second string English team a match. Today at Headingley, Leeds, they could bloody the noses of the third seeds in the tournament.

"This was our target from the start of the competition," said captain and Wigan prop forward Terry O'Connor. "We wanted to win our group and then have a crack at England. They're a very good team, of course they are, they have the cream of the Superleague players to choose from. But we have got fantastic spirit in our camp."

The continued carping about the lack of Irish accents amongst the squad of players has irked many of their number. They are, they say, quintessentially Irish, thanks to forefathers, if not Irish by birth. And their management team has been playing its own psychological games this week.

It's no accident that World Cup organisers have been bombarded with complaints about the facilities and accommodation arranged for Ireland's players, and moans about the perceived advantages given to England in the build-up to today's quarter final. Most have been imagined or exaggerated.

But the sense of injustice brewing amongst Ireland's players has not just been encouraged by the team management, it would appear to have been carefully planned for. Though no-one would admit to that, other than by a knowing twinkle in the eye.

As a ploy it seems to be getting under the skin of the England camp. David Howes, England's manager was forced to sarcastically comment: "The jacuzzi on our team bus isn't working, so we'll have to start using the team helicopter. And the heating in our penthouse suites needs fixing, but we're coping."

Once kick-off arrives at 6:30 p.m. tonight such trivialities will have been forgotten and an expected full house at Headingley can settle back for what should be a stirring encounter.

There will be plenty of mate against mate battles on the famous old pitch. O'Connor, the Irish captain, is a Wigan club mate with Andy Farrell the England captain. If stand-off Tommy Martyn is fit he'll be face to face with his St Helens half-back partner and best friend Sean Long of England. Leeds forwards Barrie McDermott (Ireland) and Adrian Morley (England) are two of the most physically unforgiving players in Superleague, so something has to give tonight. And so it goes on.

"I am sure there will be blood and guts spilled out there because that's the way I feel when I pull on an England shirt and every single one of these players does as well," insisted Farrell.

Ireland have been laying great store in the team spirit fostered during their travels but Farrell insists that, under coach John Kear and popular manager David Howes, the England players have found the true meaning of patriotism.

"This is the best group of people that I've been involved with as far as passion and playing for your country is concerned," said Farrell, who was Lions captain in last year's disastrous Tri-Nations series Down Under.

Man for man, under cold analysis, England do have the better players, especially in the play making areas of loose-forward, stand-off and scrum-half. But cold analysis will be left in the car park tonight, as red hot passions take to the pitch and terraces.

In a sentence: England are the better team, but the high emotions of representing their spiritual homeland could carry Ireland's players to victory.

And as another measure of their progress in this World Cup, whatever the outcome tonight, there will be plenty more chances in the foreseeable future for Ireland's Rugby League side to have a crack at England's finest.