Go hard or go home.
That may well have been Andy Farrell's mantra this week.
Japan four years ago, Samoa three weeks ago, Uruguay on Thursday against the French – there are enough warning signs out there that taking a team lightly based on their world ranking can easily end in pain.
Tonga are 15th in the world, faced massive disruption at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and are on a relatively new cycle, given the difficulties in assembling consistent squads for training camps and the Pacific Nations Cup.
Indeed, they finished bottom on the pile beneath Fiji, Samoa and Japan just this summer.
But Farrell is giving them full "respect", as he should. He can worry about the world champions next week. Talk of wrapping players in cotton wool for South Africa was scoffed at this week.
Ireland may be on a 14-match winning run but, in truth, haven’t really hummed since beating Les Bleus in Dublin on the way to a Grand Slam last February.
The so-called second string haven’t really done enough – against Italy or Samoa – to give him the confidence to play a similar strength outfit today.
Was naming all but two of the side that beat the All Blacks to claim the series last year in his plans originally when this fixture was discussed?
Probably not and as positive as the 12-try 82-8 win over Romania was last week – with Johnny Sexton back in harness unscathed – 'Lads, it’s Romania’.
So these horses, with just scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and hooker Dan Sheehan out, go to work again.
The ideal scenario is that Ireland get the heavy lifting done early.
Farrell called the second-half performance against the Oaks "ruthless" and transferring that mindset and execution to the first 40 minutes of this game will give him breathing room to withdraw his out-half and other key players when the result is beyond doubt.
"I'm sure that everyone would like to see that part [being ruthless] of their game grow, to take their opportunities when they can," said Farrell at Thursday’s press conference.
"It's something that we've talked consistently about getting better at, making sure that we're consistent with getting better is absolutely the key.
'I was thinking of putting a jumper on today compared to what we've been used to'
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) September 15, 2023
Tadhg Furlong enjoying the conditions in Nantes.
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"Having said that, the opposition have a say in that, haven't they? As Johnny alluded to, we're playing against a good side this weekend."
Allowing Tonga to make a game of this, as the Samoans did in Bayonne, would mean another big shift for players, many of whom went 80 minutes in the blistering Bordeaux heat seven days ago.
While Ireland have only played Tonga twice before, including at the 1987 World Cup, they boast many familiar faces.
Former Ulster full-back Charles Piutau, former Munster centre Malakai Fekitoa, former Connacht centre Pita Ahki, who has played against the four provinces 13 times for Toulouse, need no introduction.
Ex-Connacht man Leva Fifita is in the second row.
Their front row of Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Paula Ngauamo weigh in at 398kgs combined.
The 352kgs of Ireland’s starters Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong have their work cut out.
"Weight makes it heavy, it makes it hard, that’s the nature of it and it’s a big challenge from a big pack. We have to be technically good," said Furlong.
Tonga, who have never qualified from the pool stages at any of their eight World Cups to date, are coached by former Australia back row Toutai Kefu, a World Cup winner in 1999.
Ex-Munster out-half Tyler Bleyendaal is helping out, while highly regarded scrum coach Dan Cron is on board with the ‘Ikale Tahi.
A total of four ex-All Blacks, Vaea Fifita and Augustine Pulu, as well as Piutau and Fekiota make the starting line-up.
Farrell was also asked how difficult it was to formulate a plan for a team that hasn’t played together very often.
"Well, we know the coaches and how they like to plan," he said of the Tongans, nine of whose starting XV are making World Cup debuts.
"We've watched every single game that they've played over the summer and there have been plenty of them, and you say that they haven't played many Tier One nations but they've played some big games and stood up in those games.
"I think what you're saying there about personnel and people coming in for the first time, they've been training within that group and all they're going to do is make those performances that we've seen stronger.
"I said a couple of weeks ago in regards to the Samoa game there are a lot of similarities within that week to this week, with the type of personnel we're coming up against.
"We need to step up in that regard because we surely know that Tonga are going to see this as a great way to start their competition."
While the temperatures are expected to be much more manageable by the time the 9pm (local) kick-off arrives, as of this morning there remains an alert for thunderstorms in the area.
Conditions may play a part.
Tonga beat Scotland in 2012 but in 19 other ties have never had success against Ireland, Wales or England.
Ireland just need to get off to a fast start, establish their own rhythm early, win the kicking battle, and they'll get the job done. A much better return than a round-one low of a 66.7% success at the lineout is required. Time to iron out those kinks.
It's not going to be easy but the side have risen to all challenges so far and with the Springboks on the horizon, they could do with reminder of how good they actually are.
Verdict: Ireland by 20
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Craig Casey, Ross Byrne, Robbie Henshaw.
Tonga: Salesi Piutau; Afusipa Taumoepeau, Malakai Fekitoa, Pita Ahki, Solomone Kata; William Havili, Augustine Pulu; Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Paula Ngauamo, Ben Tameifuna (capt); Sam Lousi, Halaleva Fifita; Tanginoa Halaifonua, Sione Talitui, Vaea Fifita.
Replacements: Sam Moli, Tau Koloamatangi, Sosefo Apikotoa, Semisi Paea, Solomone Funaki, Sione Vailanu, Sonatane Takul, Fine Inisi.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
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