“From now on, it’s Triple Crown, it’s Grand Slam… and I think we have to expect that” – James Downey

You can be sure that many of the Ireland squad are already thinking about the Grand Slam. It's not particularly helpful but it is completely natural.

Ireland are two wins from two in this year's Six Nations and have two home games against Wales and Scotland next. They were beaten by both sides in the 2017 championship but will go into both fixtures as legitimate favourites. It may be a game too soon to start hearing and reading 'Grand Slam' everywhere but those thoughts will be there in the minds of many within the Ireland set-up. Former Ulster and Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris, who won the Slam in 2009, once commented:

"You go into every Six Nations thinking about the Grand Slam. You win your first game and those thoughts pick up pace. "As soon as we beat France, I was thinking about it. Friends and family were talking about it too. If I was talking to any of them, it would be, 'We beat England, we’re on for it'. "Three wins in at this stage and you can be sure everyone is drumming it over in their mind. They might not talk about it but the thoughts are there."

Right now, a 2018 Grand Slam only exists, in the realms of possibility, for Ireland and England. James Downey was the first person to mention the words 'Grand Slam' about the class of 2018 on The Hard Yards podcast [from 19:00 below] and he was completely unapologetic about it. "It's the business of winning matches and winning games," Downey commented. "At the end of it, no-one is going to care about it [tries scored] if we win the Grand Slam." "We're talking Grand Slam, are we?" asked host Andy McGeady. "Absolutely," Downey replied. "You have to. Of course."

"The players are never going to mention it and it will come up in the next few weeks, hopefully, if we get the results. The words won't get mentioned [by Ireland] but you have to; of course. "Even going into the game against France, you have to be positive. Say, 'We're going to be there or thereabouts'. "They could yet have an off day and both Wales and Scotland will be tough. For Wales, it's Warren Gatland. They'll be up for it. Scotland's win over France and that could be good for us, because every team has a good performance in them and let's hope their's was against France."

Downey added,  "Every game from now on is going to be like a cup final. From now on, it's Triple Crown, it's Grand Slam... and I think we have to expect that. And we should go for it. Why not?" We love the sentiment. Ireland are in this championship to sweep the board. They will not be broadcasting it but you can be sure as hell that they are plotting it."