Keith Earls says Ireland are capable of "special things" as the World Cup ramps up another notch this weekend.
Andy Farrell's side, ranked one in the world and the reigning Six Nations champions, beat Romania at a canter last weekend and next face Tonga in Nantes on Saturday (8pm).
"We have obviously achieved a lot, and we know when we are on it and we are switched on and we play our game-plan, we know we are well capable of competing and doing special things," said the 35-year-old Munster winger, who looks set to add to his 101 caps when Farrell names his side tomorrow.
"But again, I know it's a cliché, you always hear it from us, we won’t be looking past Saturday, but obviously we have touched on it.
"It’s something that we are confident in our ability. We will be looking to go deep if we reach our standards.
"[Camp in this World Cup is] definitely a bit more relaxed, I think, in the environment. We know how to deal with pressure a lot better now as a group. We know how big these tournaments are, we've had a good welcome in Tours, it's been great."
Mick Kearney (above), now in his second spell as team manager, says he has seen a lot of growth in the environment and that the team's confidence is built on strong foundations.
"Confidence and belief is very high," he said.
"And I think that comes from a number of factors.
"Going back to when Andy [Farrell] came in after 2019, I think there was a lot of talk about players being themselves, being happy very much in the environment, having that kind of openness, willingness to speak out, very much to be themselves and work together and ask questions.
"In the early days Andy would say there’s no such thing as a silly or a bad question and he doesn’t have to say that anymore now because players are very open with each other.
"I think every group is different and I think every head coach brings a different dynamic to a group.
"I've been involved back since 2012 under Declan Kidney and then when Joe came in he brought a different dynamic.
"I think Declan brought a different dynamic to what Eddie O'Sullivan had brought. It's very hard to compare when group of players or one management team to another.
"I look back at my four years working with Joe and to me there was an incredible environment under Joe and you look at when Joe came in in 2013 and won back to back Six Nations in '14 and '15, we went to South Africa, won a Test match in Cape Town, we beat the All Blacks in Chicago.
"That environment was an incredible environment as well but I just think the coaches bring different nuances as they come on board and they change things up.
"Whether it be a head coach or a CEO, they never do the same as the previous CEO or previous head coach, they like to bring on their own mark and their own style of coaching and management and looking after players and people.
"It's different but that doesn't say whether it's better or worse. It's just different."
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