Now before we start let's just say that there's going to be no post-colonialist indignation here. Just some gentle ribbing of an English rugby press that are reeling from a defeat that, all of a sudden leaves them staring down the barrel of a group stage exit at a home World Cup.
The Daily Mail may be the great bastion of English jingoism but after Wales' heroic victory on Saturday, it seems even they are willing to throw their backing behind the Irish effort.
Initial expectation on these shores has been replaced with a healthy level of excitement. The more we've been told that semi-finals would be a good achievement, the more we've accepted that. And it would be a good achievement judging by past World Cup performances. But at the same time, there's always that hope. We just don't want that hope growing wings and turning into expectation again.
Which is why the Daily Mail's match report from yesterday is to be treated with utmost suspicion.
After England's demise on Saturday night it could yet be that Ireland are the best hope of a team from the British Isles lifting the World Cup. Romania's coach Lyn Howells did not find that too hard to envisage.
'I think it's a possibility, I really do think so,' he said, believing they will at least win the group. 'Ireland are pretty much a complete team, they have a more complete game than France.'
Sure some people might take offence to the use of 'British Isles' but that's the kind of thing they live off so we'll let them at it. Instead let's examine what it actually means. The Daily Mail are trying to add Ireland into their 'hope' of a 'British Isles' team winning the World Cup.
Sorry folks, the bandwagon is full. We've only defeated Canada and Romania. In line with our strictly 'semi-finals would be good' policy, all talk of Webb Ellis is strictly forbidden and we'd kindly ask that your 'hopes' are left with Stuart Lancaster and Owen Farrell's creepy eyes.
