It's been a while since Ireland were the plucky underdogs heading into a Six Nations game against England.
You would have to go back to March 2021 for the last time Ireland went into a meeting with their old rivals as the underdogs. After an underwhelming campaign to that point, it was the moment everything clicked for Andy Farrell’s side, and their attacking game under Mike Catt.
With hindsight, it was a ground-breaking day for this Irish team. They have come a long way since.
A Test series win in New Zealand, two Six Nations titles in a row, and a drawn series against South Africa last summer mean there are no longer any secrets with how this team operate.
While the elusive World Cup success has still evaded them, they have become one of the teams to beat in Test rugby, and Tadhg Beirne believes they are routinely getting the best version of their opposition.
"I think of late, probably, since we've been hovering around that number one spot in the world, I think teams want to have a scalp off us more so than usual," he says.
"It's probably how I’d feel, if any team can beat the world number one team it’s pretty big feast, but for us we take each games as it comes.
"We've a massive focus on ourselves and as nice as it is to be number one our focus is on winning trophies and winning games."
"It's kind of hit and miss really, sometimes you do get your hands in the ball playing six, sometimes you don't."
In a highly competitive forward pack, the Munster captain has made himself one of the nailed down starters in recent seasons.
More often playing in the second row, the 33-year-old has been used as a blindside flanker more and more by Ireland in recent seasons, as Farrell looks to capitalise on his athletic profile and fitness while also making room for Joe McCarthy and James Ryan to pair up at lock.
As Beirne explains, there are subtle differences.
"In general play there is a bit of a difference there for sure.
"I probably find myself out on the wider channels a lot more at six than I would in the second row. That’s probably the biggest difference.
"Defensively you probably end up a little wider than you would in the second row so there is just a bit of a difference there where you end up on the field," Beirne adds.
While playing in the back row affords him the opportunity to get on the ball in more dangerous positions, he explains that playing at lock puts him in position to get on the ball more often.
"Not that I go and get it, I just find myself in a position to probably get my hands on the ball a little bit more [at lock], but if you've someone else playing six, they might be more clever in terms of how to get their hands on the ball and have more of an influence.
"But it's not a position I've probably been playing long enough in our system to figure out that stuff.
"It depends on the game as well. Sometimes, I think back to the year of the Lions four years ago, I was playing quite a bit of six and I got my hands in the ball quite a lot back then.
"It was just the way the games were flowing, you know. It's kind of hit and miss really, sometimes you do get your hands in the ball playing six, sometimes you don’t," he added.
Beirne started three of Ireland’s four games of the Autumn Nations Series at flanker, but Jack Conan’s return from injury creates an interesting dynamic for interim coach Simon Easterby.
Conan has been in exceptional form for Leinster this season, and is a viable option to come in at number six, which would put Beirne into the second row, with one of James Ryan or Joe McCarthy on the bench.
Whether it’s in the second or back row, the 58-cap veteran is likely to be in one of the starting shirts given his current form, while the fact he has taken over lineout calling with Ireland in the last year speaks to his importance.
Earlier this month, he was outspoken on some of the new laws introduced in rugby in 2025, but the Kildare man’s view on the tweaks to the lineout laws are much milder. Under new laws, referees will no longer punish crooked throws which are uncontested, which forces defences to make a decision over when and where to challenge in the air.
"I don’t think we’ve spoken about it that much. I always look to get after the ball as much as possible, get in the air. It’s not some we think about too much because we try to get up in the air anyway, so we’re never changing much in terms of that law.
"Watching their [England’s] Autumn international games, how often they change their defensive shape especially on five-mans [lineouts], if they drop someone out of the line and bring someone in late, so they are constantly changing the picture and it obviously makes coming up with a lineout menu a little bit difficult.
"You don’t know what they are going to try on you, so they are a tough team to play against in terms of set pieces."
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