Dumped out.

Former England international Will Greenwood doesn’t fancy Ireland’s chances at the World Cup in Japan next month because of their previous record at rugby’s showpiece event.

Ireland have never won a World Cup quarter final and it appears Greenwood, who won the tournament with England back in 2003, feels nothing will change this year.

He reckons Ireland’s previous record might play on their minds, and says it doesn’t help that Ireland will likely face New Zealand or South Africa at the quarter final stage.

“I know I’m speaking to an Irish radio station here and I’m wary of saying it, but you can’t get past a quarter-final,” Greenwood told 2FM’s Game On.

“You know that, the players know that.”

“I think there’s a different mentality with Schmidt and this whole crowd but the only thing I’m looking at however is you lot are pooled with New Zealand and South Africa.”

“So whether you win the group or come second, you’re going to play one of the hot favourites to win the World Cup. You’re not getting it easy are you?”

“It’s such a tough tournament to win now, I think it’s stratospheres harder than it was in 1999 or even in 2003, when really there were only four teams that could win it then.”

“Now I think you have an argument to say there are seven or eight. If anyone could predict the four semi-final teams in the correct order, pick the group winners and the quarter-final winners, I think you’re a better man than most.”