Ireland’s Rugby World Cup journey ended in disappointment as they failed to progress past the quarterfinals. Many have questioned if their players were pushed too hard, with the head coach choosing to field their strongest team consistently. This resulted in high playtime for key players and may have led to fatigue, highlighting the importance of strategic squad rotation and managing player workload. The contrasting strategies of South Africa and New Zealand, which prioritized squad rotation, showcase the potential pitfalls of overexertion.