‘Take the p*** out of’ – The butt of jokes in Ireland’s Rugby World Cup squad

Ireland's Craig Casey and Dave Kilcoyne hold hands as they walk out of the tunnel.
Heading into the Rugby World Cup ranked number one in the world comes with its own pressures, but the mood in the Ireland camp is good, with jokes flowing with one man being the regular butt of the jokes.
Diminutive scrum-half Craig Casey says that he is content with being the target of the ribbings from his teammates.
The Munsterman is comfortably the smallest member of Andy Farrell’s 33-man squad at just 5ft 5in and confirmed this week that he is regularly the target of jokes regarding his height.
Good craic
The 24-year-old was teased after arriving in France when captain Johnny Sexton acted as though he was the team mascot during Ireland’s open training session in front of 12,000 spectators in their base city of Tours.
Casey emerged from the tunnel holding his captain’s hand and then posed with him for a photograph.
Take your kid to work day in France. #RWC2023
Ft. Johnny Sexton and Craig Casey. ☘️ pic.twitter.com/cLeBUPEn4J
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 2, 2023
The number nine feels there is little point in rallying against the good-natured mockery, particularly with squad “sheriffs” imposing penalties.
“They like to take the p*** out of my height, as you can tell, but you just have to roll with it,” he said.
“I think if you don’t roll with it, you’ll probably be fined.
“There are a few sheriffs in the camp that keep everyone on their toes. I’d say if I fought against it, I would probably be in big trouble, so I just get on with it. It’s good craic.”
Buzzing to be in France
Casey eagerly awaits his World Cup debut after Jamison Gibson-Park and Conor Murray started and came off the bench in the thumping 82-2 victory over Romania in Bordeaux.
However, he hopes to be named in the matchday 23 for this weekend’s Pool B clash with Tonga in Nantes and believes it would be “unbelievable” to make his tournament debut.
“It’s exactly where you want to be as an Irish rugby player, at a World Cup being involved in this group,” the Munster scrum-half said.
“I think we’ve all talked about what the buzz has been for the last two or three years, and it’s definitely increased since we got over here; the excitement levels within the group are brilliant.
“The first two weeks here were definitely hard work, but we’re mixing it with the craic as well, so it’s a very enjoyable place to be.
“It would be unbelievable to make my World Cup debut if it happens. You have to be ready, and when an opportunity does come, you’ve got to take it with both hands and try and cement your place.”
Looking ahead
After the clash with Tonga, Ireland head to Paris, where they will take the defending champions South Africa.
The Springboks kickstarted their campaign with an 18-3 victory over Scotland, and Casey and his teammates gathered to watch the game together.
Casey is braced for a physical encounter against the reigning world champions and is also expecting similar this coming weekend.
“There was a good 25 of us in the team room watching it, so there was a good buzz around that, a very physical game,” he said of the Springboks.
“Scotland played very well in the first half, as well as South Africa, definitely physical.
“(They) just outmuscled them in the end, that’s what we’re expecting in a few weeks, that physical encounter.”
Speaking about Tonga, Casey added: “We know how tough the Pacific island teams are and we’re going to have to be at our best.
“We’ve got to go up another level (from Romania).”
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