THE best is yet to come, says Wales coach Steve Hansen after Saturday's 23-10 victory over Scotland in the Six Nations, their first winning start to the championship for seven years.
But the menace of Brian O'Driscoll is looming, Ireland's captain and star centre expecting to recover from a hamstring injury to face Wales at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.
Wales captain Colin Charvis also expects to make it after cutting and dislocating a finger in his left hand against Scotland. He is also predicting more to come.
"We can get better, that won't be our best performance in the Six Nations," warned Hansen while an upbeat Charvis laid down the gauntlet to Wales' rivals by saying, "We've got an opportunity to launch ourselves into the rest of the tournament."
Hansen stressed, "It was so important to get away with a win, we've achieved that and we did it with a bit of style.
"Now we know we'll have to increase our preparations because Ireland are a good side, but the more they respect us it means we'll have earned it."
Hansen says there is every chance injured pair hooker Robin McBryde and lock Robert Sidoli will be fit to face Ireland after missing the Scotland game because of back and groin injuries, respectively.
But Hansen has hinted at changes regardless of the injury situation and at the need for a change of emphasis tactically.
"It'll be a different approach tactically, and that might influence selection," he said.
"But we've got to be confident, we go to Ireland with one win under our belts whereas they are under pressure because they didn't win.
"We have got to go there with no fears and make sure we are effective in everything we do to meet the challenge."
Charvis brought a dose of reality to the table when he said, "The real test is whether we can put in another performance.
"We are renowned for playing well one week and falling apart the next, now we've got to live up to our own expectations.
"Ireland will be disappointed they lost in France and Dublin will be difficult for us, especially after their result. They know they've got to win their home games now.
"They will be desperate to avenge their French defeat, but we will go there with the attitude of keeping building. It's important we capitalise on our home games.
"We are not going to settle for this, we want to keep getting better."
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