The back-to-back wins by Ireland over Scotland and Italy in the Six Nations Championship have put a broad smile back on the face of Irish rugby. There is no doubt that good performances from the Ireland team will invariably be reflected across the board in the game in this country. The scepticism and indeed cynicism that follows in the wake of recurring failure is replaced by a renewed interest.

The victories by the senior side have been complemented by the three wins from three matches by the A team and the two wins from three outings by the under-21 team. On the domestic scene we could also be in for a very interesting and hopefully exciting battle for the top four places in the first division of the AIB All Ireland League.

On a related issue, the decision by the IRFU not to have the provinces participate in the Celtic League was the only realistic decision that could have been taken by the IRFU - but this is a matter for discussion on another day.

The wins over Scotland and Italy will leave Ireland going to Paris on Sunday in far better heart that we could have envisaged after Twickenham. Good and welcome though the last two victories were - not least because of the manner in which they were attained - we will have a much better idea of just how far we have come after Paris. This will represent a test of a very different dimension.

The Irish side will go to Paris in good heart and with more than a tenuous hope that they will give a good performance. Ireland should have won in Paris two years ago and again against France in Dublin last season.

Belief is fundamental to achievement and the Irish players must believe that they can win.

Ireland played a full-strength French side in Auch in 1988 and won a great victory. Caps were not awarded for that match as they should have been. So we must go back to that famous win in 1972 in Stade Colombes for the last time Ireland beat France in a full international on French soil. An Irish win in Paris has been a long time a coming, but then so was a win over Scotland until a month ago.

Today, St Patrick's Day, is traditionally one of the great days in Irish rugby, when the finals of the Schools' Senior Cups in Leinster, Munster and Ulster take place. And so it is that this afternoon the thousands will flock to Lansdowne Road, Ravenhill and Musgrave Park for the finals of these great competitions.

They have been on the calendar in Ulster since 1876, in Leinster since 1887 and in Munster since 1909. The schools' game in this country has come in for some criticism of late. There is nothing wrong with the examination of any structure, but there would be a great deal wrong with Irish rugby if the day ever comes when we no longer have these competitions.

The schools' game and the youths structure are and must be complementary to each other.

Despite the fall off in vocations in the teaching orders - and what a debt Irish rugby owes those orders - the fact is that more schools are playing the game in this country now than ever before. There are now over 40 schools competitions. The level of enthusiasm is immense.

Yes it is true that some schools have enjoyed a level of success far in excess of other schools - in Leinster Blackrock College; in Munster PBC Cork, CBC Cork and, at one time, Rockwell; in Ulster Methodist, RBAI, and Campbell; in Connacht St Joseph's Garbally. But you only have to go and watch schools' matches on any kind of regular basis to see that such dominance does not diminish the will of their opponents in any way. In fact victory over those schools is all the sweeter when it comes.

In all sports, you will invariably get schools, clubs or counties who will always be very strong and enjoy success on a regular basis. There are definite signs that more strong challengers are emerging to take on the traditionally successful schools. And never let us forget we need schools that are invariably strong. Look what they have given to Irish rugby.

Kilkenny and CBC Monkstown both reached the semi-finals of the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup this season. The manner in which both performed against Clongowes and Terenure respectively was truly splendid and elevating. Last season we had Roscrea in the senior final in Leinster.

Then take Clongowes. Here is a school that until 1978 had only ever won the Leinster Senior Cup once. Their record over the last 20 years has been magnificent. They meet Terenure today - what a prospect.

Last Monday I saw one of the best junior cup ties it has ever been my good fortune to witness between Blackrock and Newbridge. Today we have Rockwell back in the final of the Munster Senior Cup against CBC. Once one of the great powers in the schools game, they last won the cup in 1985. It is great to see them back on the stage on finals day.

In Ulster, Ballymena Acadamy play RBAI today. Ballymena last won the cup in 1981 and in all have won the trophy only twice in their history. RBAI, had their lean spell after glory years and have won it only twice in the last 30 years.

In Connacht, St Saran's contested the final last Wednesday against Sligo Grammar School. This is the second time in three years that St Saran's reached the final. They have made huge progress in a short space of time. Indeed the schools scene in Connacht has changed radically and immense progress has been made.

A decade ago Connacht had only seven active schools affiliated, now the number is 28. Competitive schools' rugby has been with us for well over a century. It is invaluable and irreplaceable.