Ireland have never progressed beyond the World Cup quarter-finals, but they have one of the most respected - and feared - players in the world in captain Brian O'Driscoll.
Along with the likes of no-nonsense second row Paul O'Connell, Ireland have had the personnel to be there or thereabouts in the Six Nations in recent years.
However, that has not been the case at the World Cup. Their most memorable game was in 1991 when they were within seconds of beating eventual champions Australia in their quarter-final.
Their worst result came four years ago when they failed to progress past pool play.
Several 2009 British and Irish Lions will be New Zealand - as well as O'Connell and O'Driscoll, Tommy Bowe, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Jamie Heaslip, Rob Kearney, Ronan O'Gara, Donncha O'Callaghan and David Wallace make the trip.
The squad also includes former Waikato halfback Isaac Boss and of the Sale Sharks tighthead prop Tony Buckley, who stands 196cm tall and weighs 135kg.
Ireland were contenders in this year's Six Nations before finishing third, while they failed to impress in their World Cup warmup matches
They open against the USA in New Plymouth on 11 September, before playing Australia, Russia and the team that will push them for quarter-final qualification, Italy in their last group C match.
