What better way for Ireland to finish the Six Nations Championship than with a win against Wales at Lansdowne Road. I'm sure there will be a lot of anticipation for a good match from Ireland as Wales are evidently now struggling as a team.

Because of that, Ireland clearly have to be professional about the job. They've done it once playing against Italy and people are now looking at them as favourites again. This has to be dealt with in a constructive manner because, very often, Irish teams have been unable to properly deal with the "favourites" label in the best way.

They won't take anything for granted even though they will go into the match with a lot of confidence. This will enable them to see the game through because this particular Irish side seem to be able to live with that sort of "favourites" pressure and perform. In the match against Italy there was a marked difference in the way Ireland played and it showed when they attacked. Confidence was also noticeable when Ireland saw out the win over Scotland and when they were able to withstand the serious early pressure against France. They knew in Paris that if they could live with it they were still very much in the match.

This side is also one which has known tough times not so long ago - last season, the World Cup and the match against England. I think they are now professional enough to go out and deal with the expectation which is there right now.

Looking at where they are, I really don't think any Irish supporter or fan would have foreseen what has been a complete revamp of Irish rugby over the last three games in terms of the manner in which the team is now playing and the victories.

It should also be said that it is not totally surprising in the sense that the team has a nucleus of top quality players who have been there for two or three years and who are now beginning to perform well as individuals and as a collective unit. The Irish pack are very strong and they will be dominant. I don't think the Welsh have enough heavy guns to put them under pressure. The backline should get a lot of ball and the result should be a more fluid game and more possession for Ireland.

They'll play much as they have been and will try to create loose situations which will be exploited by the likes of Brian O'Driscoll and Shane Horgan, something they've been doing very well.

The move to bring Horgan back in on the wing for Kevin Maggs was a good one and was done in the face of the obvious dilemma. Do you change a winning side?

Ultimately, I think Shane is a more natural winger even though he and Maggs both play most of their rugby in the centre. He was impressive in both games against Scotland and Italy. The confidence, the youth and the attacking ability in particular would have won him over to the selectors.

Watching the video of the French game and naming players who are playing well, Malcolm O'Kelly has to come up. He has clearly begun to fulfil early promise. Dropping his shoulder into the incoming French player and spinning a pass out for O'Driscoll's second try was a great piece of skill.

In terms of the Welsh, I feel they're a team who peaked before the World Cup. Graham Henry is a first-class coach, has great vision and great training technique. He really brought Wales from the bottom of the ladder to the situation where they were an outside bet for the World Cup. Remember they also beat England in the last match of the Five Nations last year.

But they are missing players in the Quinells, Neil Jenkins, Robert Howley and Scott Gibbs. However, although Ireland will face a side struggling with confidence, Henry is astute. He will have seen how Ireland play and he'll try to counteract it in a very positive manner.

Finally, it is Donal Lenihan's final game. I've already said that I don't think there is a shrewder manager, even in world rugby.

The Lions are the one to benefit here. He is the type of person who would approach any project or job in a reflective and positive manner.

(In an interview with Johnny Watterson)