Ireland may be chasing a third Under-20s Six Nations Grand Slam in a row, but it wasn't long ago that silverware was a rarity.
Prior to the breakthrough slam in 2019, Ireland had only ever been crowned Under-20s Six Nations champions twice, with their one and only Grand Slam coming back in 2007.
The link between the current flock of youngsters and that 2007 side is Ian Keatley.
The former Munster and Ireland out-half has joined Richie Murphy's coaching ticket this year following Mark Sexton's promotion at Connacht.
Since retiring from playing in 2021, the Dublin native has taken on several coaching gigs, working at schools level with Glenstal Abbey and at club level with UL Bohemian in Division 2A of the Energia All-Ireland League, a role he's had to move on from since joining Munster full-time last summer as a "provincial talent coach".
"I always thought I wanted to be a good coach," he tells RTÉ Sport.
"Even as a player or even as a number 10, you're kind of a coach on the pitch anyway. I always thought I had a good way about myself, I was always trying to help other players."
If the current group can match Keatley's team from 2007, they'll be doing well.
The out-half is one of several full Ireland internationals to emerge from that Grand Slam-winning side, which also included Cian Healy, Jamie Hagan, Tommy O'Donnell, Felix Jones, Keith Earls and Darren Cave, while Luke Fitzgerald and Sean O'Brien missed out on the campaign due to injury.
It may feel like yesterday to Keatley, but he says the current set-up is a much different environment compared to 17 years ago.
"I said it to one of the players, Hugo McLaughlin. I said, 'sure I won an U20s Grand slam', and he said, 'yeah, back in the Stone Age'. I think he still thinks it was four points for a try, and two points for a kick back then!
"These guys, it's an incredible set-up here. They have a full-time nutritionist who is one of the best in the business, full-time analysis, kitman, masseuse, doctor, they're fully equipped to give themselves the best possible environment and best possible chance to succeed.
"I think they're really enjoying being in this group, this environment. It's a little taster for what a professional environment would look like.
"I just think it's a really good place for them to learn and get a taste of what it could be, to go on and be successful, whether that's winning trophies or being successful in their own career, whatever it might be."
The biggest change in 17 years is the level of expectation.
When Keatley's side won that Grand Slam in 2007 they were the first Irish side to do so, before a second Six Nations title followed in 2010, albeit without a slam.
In addition to reaching the World Rugby U20 Championship final last summer, Ireland have now won three Grand Slams in six years, while they were on course to do so as well in 2020 before the championship was abandoned due to Covid-19.
Last Saturday's thrilling 37-31 win away to France in Aix-en-Provence (above) was their 22nd win in their last 24 Under-20s Six Nations games, with 19 bonus-point victories.
Their only two defeats in the championship since 2018 came in the rearranged 2021 season, which was played entirely at the Cardiff Arms Park.
And while the nature of the Under-20s grade ensures there's a high volume of turnover year to year, Keatley says those high standards of recent seasons are setting a benchmark for the current generation to match.
"It's great to work with so many young, aspiring lads who just want to learn and get better. They've seen the success of the 20s in the past and they just want their own success and own journey.
"It's a great environment to be in and then also working with Richie [Murphy] and all the other coaches, like Willie Falloon, Aaron Dundon, and the backroom staff behind that. It's a class set-up.
"People think that because we won the U20s grand slam last year, it's a formality.
"There's around 25 new players to the group, with five or so returning from last year. It's a good mix, and we have five or six U19 guys there. There's a good blend, and hopefully those U19s play U20s next year, and then you have a knock-on effect, the experienced lads. We saw how the five experienced lads contributed at the weekend."
After the highs defeating the world champions last week, Ireland welcome Italy to Virgin Media Park in Cork tonight [7.15pm] for their first home game of the championship, looking make it 12 Six Nations wins in a row.
Italy come into the game off the back of a 36-11 defeat to Italy in Treviso, and Keatley wants to see the players keep an even keel, after a physically and mentally draining 80 minutes six days ago.
"They're all tired this week. The physical strain from the game, but the emotional strain too. You could see it last week, a lot of players were a little bit stressed, nervous about playing France in France.
"A lot of those boys played against France last year, and would have been on the receiving end of a loss last year [at the world championship] to this French team.
"It was a great result, we're just absolutely delighted for these lads, but if we don't back it up this weekend, it doesn't amount to much. I think we've kicked that out of them, and they're raring to go on Friday night."
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow a live blog of Ireland U20 v Italy U20 on Friday from 6.45pm on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app
