Ireland's start to the 2024 Six Nations has won them an incredible amount of plaudits in recent weeks. Their victories over France and Italy have no doubt been impressive, but it is interesting to see the reaction it has drawn from many overseas rugby commentators.
Sam Warburton is among those to be blown away by the showings from Andy Farrell's side, while other former Wales stars Tom Shanklin and Shane Williams were also quick to praise the defending champions.
It certainly seems as though Ireland's quarter-final exit at the World Cup has not been held against them elsewhere, something that wasn't always the case in the past.
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Rugby: Wales legends labels Ireland as 'best in the world'
Ireland will enter this weekend's game against Wales at the Aviva Stadium as heavy favourites, with many expecting the home side to continue their march towards a second successive Grand Slam.
That includes many associated with Welsh rugby, who are in no doubt about the challenge that lays ahead of their team on Saturday afternoon.
Writing in his Wales Online column, Wales legend Jonathan Davies summed up why his former side are such underdogs in this fixture. He even went as far as to label Ireland as 'the best side in the world' ahead of some of the southern hemisphere contenders for that title.
Wales’ front-five have a massive challenge in terms of how they go against, for me, the best side in the world at the moment. We haven’t seen New Zealand or South Africa play since the World Cup, so I think Ireland deserve that tag.
In order to win, I think Wales have got to do everything right and Ireland have to have a bad day at the office. They’ve got real rugby intelligence – they all know what they’re doing.
The way they attack the defence, with short passes and running in pairs. There’s a bit of rugby league to what they do.
Wales will have to really work hard in defence to stop them getting quick ball. Once you get caught in that tumble dryer from ruck to ruck, it’s very difficult to defend.
And that’s where Ireland’s physicality comes in as well. It’ll take a monumental effort for Wales to win.
South Africa rugby fans are unlikely to be too happy about Ireland being given that tag, although Davies believes they deserve it as things stand due to the lack of test action in the southern hemisphere in 2024.
If Andy Farrell's side can go on to win the Six Nations, it would no doubt add a bit of extra spice to the series against the Springboks this summer.
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