Johnny Sexton insists the metric for enjoying Ireland games remains the taste of victory as he shapes up for another crunch game in Paris.
Sexton is loving the all-out attacking tactics that propelled Ireland back into the top three in the world at the weekend - when the comprehensive victory over Wales made it nine wins on the spin since last February's loss to France.
With his commitment to take the ball to the gain line, the skipper is tailor-made to play this way.
But still, whatever the tactics employed - be it the restricted but for so long effective Joe Schmidt way or the heads-up style of Andy Farrell - it comes down to the bottom line for Sexton.
"It's only enjoyable because we're winning," the 36-year-old stated.
"Any team that I've ever been involved with and we've won, I've loved.
"I've loved playing for Ireland in any system that we've played in, but if you look back the best teams you played in and the most enjoyable environments are when you win.
"That's because you get the moments after games as well as some as the moments in games.
"Like, some of the moments that we've had in games recently, they'll live with you forever."
Sexton mentions Garry Ringrose's try to bring up the winning bonus point last Saturday.
"What an amazing try," he grinned. "The stadium just goes crazy, we love it as a team, it's a bonus-point try at home in the Aviva Stadium.
"You love it when you win, and that's the most important thing when it comes to it."
What Sexton really loves about the current Ireland set-up is that he is being encouraged to push the envelop still further as a player.
The Dubliner was Schmidt's on-field orchestrator for so long and now he is adding even more dimensions to his world-class game.
"Yeah, the coaches have challenged me to get better in certain areas, and I enjoy the system that we’re playing in," Sexton admitted.
"I enjoy having that...freedom. It’s freedom to stay in the system and make decisions in it, play what you see and the freedom to go and do that.
"Things have worked for us but I am always harping on about it in the last Six Nations."
Sexton was injured in the opening game when 14-man Ireland lost to Wales, then lost by two points at home to France without their captain.
"We weren’t too far away," he remembered. "We weren’t too far away even in the campaign before that.
"Things just click with time - and with getting certain individuals back in the team who make a big difference, it all comes together.
"It’s just a bit of time and guys getting comfortable because it’s very different to how the provinces play.
"It takes a bit of getting used to. But I’m loving it, all the boys are loving it too and now it’s about figuring out different ways we can try to improve it."
In the short term, that means going to Paris and winning - something Ireland achieved as a first step to a Grand Slam in 2018, courtesy of that 41-phase last play that culminated in Sexton's famous drop goal to clinch victory.
“It takes, obviously, a really good team," he said.
"And you need to have some players that produce some big moments and, as a team, we're going have to go through some tough times.
“France will have some purple patches that we need to make sure we handle.
"Over the years the times that we have won or drawn we have had some great performances.
“And that’s what all our focus is on is trying to get our best performance to date out there and see where that leaves us.
"You're never guaranteed anything over there. But if you play really well it certainly helps."
Sexton pointed to the influence that head coach Fabien Galthié and former Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards have had on a French team that remains favourite to win the championship.
"I suspect it links to Shaun Edwards," he said. "The quality of coaches they have there would play a huge part.
"When teams turn a corner like that, the coaches play the biggest part in it. Good players are nothing without good coaches. Galthié obviously comes with a huge reputation."
Sexton added: "It’s a massive fixture. How many times have we won over there in 20 or 30 years? Not too many.
"It takes a special team to win there and it will take a great performance. That’s all we’re focused on.
"We’re not talking about who we are playing. We’re obviously giving them the respect that they absolutely deserve and analysing them.
"But we haven’t talked about who the best or second best team is, just our performance and where that leaves us.”
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