Linda Djougang isn't a secret agent any more but as a new Ireland cap back in the day, she was sent on a spying mission.
A native of Cameroon, French is the Irish forward's first language and Mike Ross, the then-Ireland forwards coach, sent her behind enemy lines when they faced France in the 2019 Guinness Six Nations.
Or, more specifically, told to stick her head into the French huddle during the game and return with some high-level lineout intel.
"The water break came and the French team huddled, and the lineout was next," Djougang recalled.
"And Mike Ross just took me and pushed me into the French huddle, and I was listening to them and listening to the call, and then I just walked off.
"It's usually just 'bleu, blanc, rouge' [for front, middle or back], and then you know where they are going.
"After that I was like 'ROUGE! girls, rouge, red, they are going to the front'."
She wouldn't get away with it now but these days Djougang's value to the team lies in her considerable rugby skills. She's able to pack down on both sides of the front row and is prominent on and off the ball.
The Leinster and Old Belvedere player has scored five tries in 41 appearances in green.
She can't help but laugh when the topic of her stunning solo try for the Wolfhounds against Clovers in December's Celtic Challenge tie in Donnybrook is brought up.
Djougang goes all the way! ⚡️
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) December 22, 2024
The Wolfhounds score their second of the game before the Clovers hit back.
Wolfhounds 14-7 Clovers#BBCRugby pic.twitter.com/Nx1UFWXtam
Picking up a loose ball in her own half, Djougang took off and outpaced Ireland international centre Enya Breen to win a 60-metre dash to the tryline.
"We all just laughed," she said.
"I spoke to Chisom [Ugwueru, Munster and Clovers winger]. Chisom was like, 'what just happened, where did you get that from? You made me look so bad'.
"Hopefully I can do the same thing again on Saturday.
"I’ve been working really hard with S&C in how to run and get your pace.
"That day I was running and I could just hear Enya Breen behind me and I was, 'oh no! I have to really run fast!! We had such a great crowd and when you hear that it gives you more energy or oomph to go faster."
That, of course, is just Fancy Dan stuff and the grunt work is done off the ball.
In fact, the 28-year-old (above) topped the dominant tackles chart (17) and was second in attacking rucks (109) hit in last season's Six Nations, in which Ireland finished third, securing World Cup qualification in the process.
"I had a meeting with Hugh [Hogan, defence coach] on tackle technique," she explains about her defensive exploits.
"We have our review and you want to build on those strengths and work on your weaknesses.
"So I usually just go and get the girls, some tackle bags and stay working on my tackling technique.
"I do that before and after a session. I might do six tackles, before and after, 12, and I do it every day.
"I’ve also been working on loading, how you read the game, where I can really improve on that tackle tech, more opportunity to make those tackles of more opportunity in the breakdown, to slow their ball down."
Djougang will start at tighthead when she lines out in Belfast on Saturday afternoon (1pm) and the pride she feels when representing her adopted country is as strong as ever.
"It’s always an honour to sing the national anthem in front of everyone, like your family and team-mates, and your community," said Djougang, who moved to Dublin aged nine.
"We’ve been playing in Belfast the last few years and the support has been incredible.
"You want to take it in because you never know if it’s your last game.
"It’s an emotional one singing the national anthem but in the back of my head I’m just thinking of my first move, what is my first impact.
"You are just switched on because the minute Amhrán na bhFiann is finished, you know the game is on.
"If we are kicking I always ask the [10] where are you kicking it? So I know which way I’m going to run, I know who is usually standing in that position."
Ireland have only beaten France three times in the Six Nations with the last victory coming in 2017. They have lost all their last six games against Saturday's visitors by more than 20 points.
But former ASM Romagnat player Djougang believes the team, off the back of the WXV win over New Zealand, is now in a place where they can really put it up to Les Bleues.
She said: "We wanted to get to that level of France and England and I think that we're moving in the right direction from last year.
"Now we don't want to settle there [in third place] because we know that we're better than that.
"We want to step it up and the big competition for us starting this Saturday with France, to prove that."
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