The Ireland women rugby captain Suzanne Fleming is backing her girls in green to shock fourth seeds Canada in their opening World cup match in Spain this afternoon (4.30).
The Ulster star believes the Irish, seeded only 13th, are capable of cashing in on any Canadian complacency and causing one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history, at Girona, north of Barcelona.
Although the huge disparity in seeding suggest the result should be a foregone conclusion, Canada were unconvincing in winning one and drawing one of their two Tests against Wales last autumn.
By their own admission, the Welsh were lucky to get out of Limerick with a 13-9 victory in the opening round of the Six Nations back in February, the first Womens international ever to be played at Thomond Park.
"It's so hard to tell what Canada will be like as we haven't played them before, but that could count in our favour, especially if they write us off, insists Fleming.
"Facing them first up is our best chance of victory and we go into this one much more positive and with less of a fear factor than we did in the corresponding match four years ago, when we lost 21-nil to Australia."
Victory here would undoubtedly be Ireland's most famous result in womens internationals to date and set up a quarter final tie on Saturday with the winners of this evening's clash between Scotland and Samoa.
If, however, firm favourites Canada deliver, defeat would leave Ireland needing to win all three remaining matches to better the10th place they achieved in Holland in 1998.
"The biggest barriers could be mental ones", admits the captain. "We are so used to losing close games. We will need to hold our nerve and be ruthless in taking any opportunities which come our way.
"It will take total concentration and commitment for the whole 80 minutes if we are to have a chance. An afternoon kick-off means it will be hot, but our fitness is good and I believe we can cope with the conditions.
"An early score would be ideal, especially in light of our lack of tries in the Six Nations, but if it doesn't come we must hang in there and keep battling away, not letting them get into their stride.
"We have made progress this season, but everyone is sick of moral victories.
"Now is the time to win one of these big games when it really counts."
IRELAND v Canada; SJ Belton (UL Bohs) ; S Fleming (Cooke, Capt) P Kelly (UL Bohs) N Milne (Worcester) R Boyd (Cooke,); R Howell (UL Bohs) K Eagleson (Cooke); J Lonergan (Shannon), E Collins (UL Bohs) M Coulter (Blackrock) R Foley (Shannon), A M McAllister (Blackrock), R Reid (Cooke), M O'Loughlin (UL Bohs), F Steed (Shannon) Replacements: J Sparkes (Blackrock) L Cantwell (UL Bohs), F Neary ((Waterloo) M Dolo (Old Belvedere), E Coen (Highfield), M Quirke (UL Bohs) B Montgomery (Ripon).
- Sale Sharks clinched second place in the English Premiership with a stunning six-try 40-11 victory over Harlequins in frontof a full house at Heywood Road yesterday. Sale needed the bonus point to guarantee finishing just behind champions Leicester and ahead of Gloucester but their season is far from over as they look forward to the European Shield final in a fortnight's time as well as the play-offs.
Northampton ended their Premiership season on a winning note with a tense 24-19 win over Newcastle but their efforts were not enough to secure themselves an automatic place in next season's European Cup. The Saints needed a win and a bonus point and also required Leicester to deny London Irish of any points at Welford Road.
Their midlands rivals did just that with a 34-16 win over the Exiles - but Northampton could only manage to score two tries. But their European dreams now hinge on the championship play-offs. They must first overcome London Irish in two weeks' time.
