Conor Murray’s confident words demonstrate how far Ireland have come in just two years

A shift in Ireland's mentality.

Ireland are getting heaped with praise at this World Cup. While such glowing words may sit uneasily with Irish supporters, the players are happy to roll with it. Winning Six Nations championships and beating both Australia and South Africa in the last 18 months can do wonders for the confidence. It seems like an absolute age ago when Ireland were ranked 8th in the world after losing to Italy in the 2013 Six Nations. Ahead of Ireland's Pool D encounter with Italy, Murray was asked if the favourites' tag rests comfortably with him. "It’s nice, I think," he responded.

"When I came into the squad we were a team that maybe liked the underdog tag but over the last two seasons we’ve shaken that off and I don’t think players are afraid to say that if we go well then we’ve got a good chance of winning. "That’s not cocky or anything, it’s just an account of how far we’ve come as a team together, in the confidence we have in our coaching set-up, our player group and how well we can do."

Murray is itching to get going against the Italians, especially after sitting on the bench for most of Ireland's win over Romania, at Wembley, last Sunday. He commented, "I can’t wait to see the Irish fans pretty much pack out this place tomorrow and feed off the buzz and the noise they are making. "I’m sure it will be just as good as it was in Cardiff, with supporters lining the streets. "The early part of the week and in training you’re under pressure and you want to get things right, but you’ve got to enjoy it too, playing for Ireland. "I try to enjoy it and I’m sure the lads do too."