Well prepared.

In a brand new feature we look back at some of our favourite Rugby World Cup stories from years gone by, ahead of the return of rugby’s showpiece event in Japan later this year.

Last week we looked at the time Paul O’Connell got in an infamous training ground scrap back in 2007, and this weeke we’re looking at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

One of Ireland’s greatest Rugby World Cup victories came in the pool stages back in 2011 when they shocked the world with a 15-6 win over Australia, despite being massive underdogs.

The men in green had previously lost all four of their warm up games, before stumbling to victory against a lowly USA side in the opening round of the tournament. But when it really mattered they upset the Wallabies in a fiery affair to take charge of the pool.

Two men who were absolutely immense that day were back-rowers Sean O’Brien and Stephen Ferris, with the latter giving us one of the all-time great World Cup highlights when he make light work of Will Genia.

But what were Ireland’s two heroes doing the week beforehand? They went for a few pints of course. Writing in his autobiography, Ferris recalls one of our favourite World Cup stories, featuring himself, Sean O’Brien, Ronan O’Gara, Brian O’Driscoll and a two lovely American ladies.

“I bump into a lad who is dressed in an all-in-one spandex bodysuit. The green part of the tricolour; his two mates are the white and orange. He lets out a roar and peels back the hood.” Ferris writes

“‘Jesus hell John, what about ya?’”

“It is John Kerins, a lad from Cork that I had played with for Ireland Youths.”

“I catch up with John and his mates and end up chatting with a group of girls, a couple of whom are Americans.”

“New Plymouth is not the type of place where you can walk out and get a taxi; they are in short supply. When Sean and I go to leave, with the American girls for company, we have no luck getting one.”

“We have only had a few beers and have our wits about us. We have a massive game against Australia the following week. We eventually flag a taxi and go back to the [hotel].”

“I send a text to my roommate. ‘ROG, I’ve got a girl back. Any chance of you fucking off?’”

“He texts back, ‘No worries mate.’”

“He gets his bags and moves out of there pretty quickly. He texts Drico: ‘Big man’s got a girl back, any chance I can bunk in with you?’”

“He does the right thing. Next day, I buy him lunch.”

“Myself and Seanie are back on the mission to ensure we play well against Australia.”