Stephen Ferris reckons Andy Farrell's Ireland can follow Rory McIlroy and stick to number one - if they win Saturday's "war" with the Springboks.
McIlroy returned to the top of the world in golfing terms by winning the CJ Cup almost a fortnight ago, while Ireland got back to the rankings summit by winning their tour series in New Zealand in July.
Last week, Farrell declared that Ireland must embrace being top dogs and go on the attack ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup - and former Test star Ferris loves that approach.
Read next: Ulster duo added to Ireland squad ahead of Autumn International series
"Yeah," he said. "When I played, I think the highest we were ranked was fourth and we were walking into team meetings and Declan Kidney had written up New Zealand, South Africa, England and we were all like, 'Oh Jeez, there's Ireland, we're sitting fourth, unbelievable!'.
"We thought we were heroes and it's just come on leaps and bounds. It's a different level now.
"I obviously never experienced getting to number one but it's a bit like Rory McIlroy at world number one in the golf.
"As soon as he gets there he's like, 'nobody has any idea of the amount of hard work I've put in to get back to this'.
"He was so proud at getting back to number one and it feels like Rory is now going to hold on to that for a significant period of time, the mindset that he's in, and that's very similar to where Ireland are.
"They're at the top and they want to hang onto it for as long as possible. Johnny Sexton wants to write his name into the history books even more, for keeping Ireland at the top for such a long period of time, so yeah, I think it's a brilliant attitude to have.
"Of course we're going to be face with the challenge of all these teams over the next year, but I think they're more than capable of doing it.
"Imagine Ireland going into the Rugby World Cup, first game, number one seed in the world. It would be a brilliant talking point for everybody."
As far as the ex-Ulster and Ireland flanker is concerned, the result is everything at the Aviva Stadium as Farrell's men take on the reigning world champions.
Having not played South Africa since hammering them 38-3 in the November series in 2017, Rassie Erasmus' behemoths bring a different challenge to what in-form Ireland have dealt with in the past.
So as far as Ferris is concerned, the result at the weekend takes precedence over performance.
"Like, everything is on this result and if Ireland don't play particularly great, their running game doesn't happen, they steal half a dozen of the Springboks' lineouts and they nick a couple of penalties and win the game, I think everyone will be delighted with that," he said.
"That's because it's not always going to go your own way, especially in World Cups - as we know previously.
"This South African side, the question mark has always come up, can Ireland mix it with big, strong, physical packs. Can they do it? We haven't seen if they can or not yet.
"So if they win by whatever means possible then they can say that they can. So everything is just on the result and that's what they've got to chat about.
"And I think we'll do it, I really do. I know that Rassie Erasmus, off the back of South Africa's Rugby Championship and playing some half decent rugby, will have his boys completely fired up.
"We've always watched the documentary 'Chasing The Sun' in the lead up to the last World Cup and the passion, the focus on physicality, going out and f'ing up the opposition, it's like a mindset thing.
"If they do get into Ireland's mindset early on and absolutely flatten them, then I can't wait to see how Ireland react. I can't wait to see what their mettle is.
"If they can get this performance right and get the win, everyone across world rugby will be talking about Ireland as one of the favourites for the World Cup."
Johnny Sexton spoke this week of Ireland's need to build depth, to have 42 rather than 32 players ready to play at the highest level.
Ferris' main concern is that Farrell's squad is not there yet, stressing that "the s*** will hit the fan" is Sexton himself is injured.
"The worrying thing for an Irish fan is that I think we have 23 men who, when fully fit, can beat any team in the world every single day of the week – and, as Tyson Fury would say, twice on Sunday," he said.
"But when we don’t have 23 fully fit lads, and you start taking out certain key positions, that’s where the likes of France, South Africa, New Zealand to a certain extent, have a little bit more squad depth.
"That’s something Ireland have worked tremendously hard on, but is the Emerging Ireland thing adding to that?
"It probably didn’t in the grand scheme of things for a Rugby World Cup - I don’t think there’s anyone who has come out of that tour who’s going to be on the plane. Hopefully I’m wrong, there might be one or two as the season progresses.
"But it’s always in the back of your mind as an Ireland fan, isn’t it? That we’re going to a World Cup, we’re in fine fettle, ‘Here we go!’ – then we pick up a couple of injuries, ‘Oh dear! We’re going to have France or New Zealand in a quarter-final, oh no!’.
"Cliché as it is, it’s game by game when you get to a Rugby World Cup - but I think Ireland have got to hit the ground running in France.
"It was very stop-start in Japan. Ireland weren’t playing brilliant rugby from the first minute of the first game.
"It’s all about getting momentum, building confidence. If we can start in a RWC as we finished off the last couple of months, I really do fancy the guys to beat France or New Zealand in a quarter-final, if they can continue this momentum."
READ NEXT:
John Andrew focused on job in hand despite special milestone
Worcester Warriors situation leaves Jonny Bell worrying about the game of rugby
Ex-Ulster Rugby star Nick Williams issues thanks after cardiac arrest ordeal
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
