After getting out of jail with a narrow win over Italy last time out, Ireland's Under-20s are targetting an 80-minute performance against Wales this evening.
Richie Murphy’s charges scraped to a 23-22 victory over the young Azzurri, who led at half-time and also with seven minutes to play in round two of the U20 Six Nations.
Two of the three tries conceded by Ireland came shortly after they had crossed themselves and winger Hugo McLaughlin knows that a repeat performance will dent their title ambitions.
"The main thing is just being switched on for the whole 80 minutes, which was a bit of a learning from Italy," McLaughlin told RTÉ Sport.
"We’ve just got to focus for 80 minutes and play the best we can.
"We are expecting some big boys, especially a few of their backs and back rows, big ball carriers.
"Our main focus is when they have the ball, just get off the line and make some big shots. Their backs are good, against Scotland and England they scored some good tries, running from deep."
The celebrations at the end of the match two weeks ago were more of relief than anything, according to the former Gonzaga College student (above).
"Oh God, yeah. I think I came off in the 65th minute and I was biting my nails for the last 15," he said.
"There was so much relief. Even when Sean [Edogbo] went over but then they got the ball back, it was just nerves, nerves, nerves.
"We’ve just got to get it out of our heads, it’s a new game on Friday and just play as best we can."
McLaughlin has been involved with Ireland underage set-ups for the last couple of years and won a Leinster Senior Schools Cup in 2023 and is really enjoying the step up in class with the U20s.
"It’s special," he said.
"You know how much it means when you make your debut against France and your phone is blowing up after.
"That's when you know it’s special when you have everyone congratulating you. You take a step back and think wow, and realise what you've just done.
"There are a lot of similarities in 18s and 19s, being in camp, a lot of the same lads, getting into those routines that are really getting you ready for 20s.
"But it is a huge step up at 20s, everything, physicality-wise, we saw that in the French game and the one against Italy, it’s a huge step up.
"Obviously, we are growing but other teams have grown exponentially as well over the last few years. That is the main difference.
"I know lots of the lads are nervous before games, and I am nervous, but I’m more excited to play.
"I was that way in school, too. Before the game going out in front of the crowd and playing with your mates and the whole school in front of you. It’s just excitement and I can't wait to get on to the pitch and show what I can do."
Ireland missed a whopping 33 tackles against Italy and scrum coach Aaron Dundon says it’s an area he expects to see much improvement in for tonight’s 7.15pm kick-off in Musgrave Park.
He said: "Definitely, missing tackles, [it’s] technique with a few of the players, a bit of workrate, we weren't working hard when we didn't have the ball.
"At times not getting our space right, there were quite a few things but Willie Falloon, our defence coach, has been doing quite a bit of work on that since, trying to improve in that area.
"We’ll look to see a response in that area."
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Watch Ireland v Wales in the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch France v Italy in the Guinness Six Nations on Sunday from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
