There are a lot of parallels with 2019 coming into this year. We came into that year as number one ranked team in the world and there was massive hype building into the World Cup and then the whole thing fell apart.
But I think Andy Farrell is brilliant at embracing pressure. We saw that in New Zealand during the summer tour and they have had a brilliant camp out in the Algarve.
He knows exactly what to expect from Warren Gatland because there is a Gatland factor to this game. The roof at the Principality Stadium is going to be closed and the atmosphere is going to be incredible.
But Farrell and this Irish group know exactly what's ahead of them. I think if we have serious aspirations to win a World Cup, then it starts in Cardiff on Saturday.
Gatland is brilliant at creating a siege mentality and there has been a lot of pressure on Welsh rugby for all the wrong reasons over the past couple of weeks.
He is brilliant at bringing a group together. Bear in mind, this Welsh squad lost to Georgia last November and Italy in the last game of the Six Nations championship last year.
So it's been a pretty harrowing time for them. Gatland has been brought back again against all the odds. With his selection, he's gone back to the tried and trusted.
Five of his original team had over 100 caps but Leigh Halfpenny had to cry off. So he brings in Liam Williams, another double Lion.
He has also gone with six Ospreys forwards up front so you have that element of familiarity. So it's going to be massively physical.
I think defensively Wales will bring that incredible linespeed that they used to have under Shaun Edwards. They will have a big kick-chase game and will try to put all the pressure on Ireland and wait for mistakes.
From that point of view, it's going to be intriguing. But when you're ranked the number one team in the world, there is a massive target on your back and that's what you have got to expect every time you take to the field.
I expect it to be hostile and a lot closer than people would have thought prior to the appointment of Warren Gatland. There is no doubt there is going to be a response from Wales.
But I equate this to the third Test in Wellington last summer. Ireland had beaten New Zealand the previous Saturday.
There was massive talk about the All Blacks pack and the physicality that they were going to bring. Yet Ireland turned up in that third Test and played the best rugby I've seen from them in the professional era in that opening half. They have got to try and find that quickly and get on their feet.
I think it's going to be tighter than people anticipate but I do expect Ireland to start the campaign with a win.
Donal Lenihan was speaking on Morning Ireland
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