Peter Jackson: Nobody will say it, but Ireland deserve to be favourites

They have delivered a shift in attitude. Now they expect to keep winning.

EYES OFF THE PRIZE: Jonathan Sexton of Ireland walks past the William Webb Ellis trophy. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

There have been days in Irish sport to remember all our lives; days of Olympic gold from Ronnie Delany in Melbourne to Katie Taylor in London, days of world-beating boxers and golfers, from Barry McGuigan to Rory McIlroy either side of Italia 90.

Achievements rare enough to be classified as once-in-a-lifetime and now along comes another straight out of the same revered category, one guaranteed to keep Paris festooned in every shade of green for another week, at the very least.