Brian O'Driscoll reckons Ireland have improved from a D to a B grade in a year - but must get to A grade standard to make history at the World Cup.
Despite the last game against France ending in defeat, O'Driscoll was hugely encouraged by what he saw from Ireland in terms of staying in the fight in very difficult circumstances.
The Ireland great, who scored a hat-trick in Paris himself 22 years ago to plant himself on a global stage, has been waiting for the current crop in green to find a way to "counter-punch" against the bigger teams.
