New boss Andy Farrell insists Ireland are in the Six Nations to win it despite only recently stepping into Joe Schmidt's hot-seat.
Speaking at the championship launch in London yesterday, Farrell explained his ambitions for the next couple of months after being promoted from defence coach to the head coach role.
"Progressing our game, winning - it matters," said Farrell. "We won't shy away from that, I told the boys yesterday.
"If I told Johnny (Sexton) that he's going into a game to play second fiddle to come away with a loss, he'd think I'd gone mad.
"So we want to win. At the same time, we want to develop our game, we want to keep improving and certain aspects will take a bit of time. At the same time, we expect to perform."
Farrell is keen to improve Ireland's all-round game after the disappointment of their World Cup exit to the All Blacks late last year.
"I suppose every coach that comes in would like to put their own stamp on the game, without getting too ahead of ourselves," he said.
"I'm still going to be myself, 100 percent. I'll always be myself otherwise I wouldn't be true to what I believe in.
"That's the way I've always coached. Is it going to change as far as the players are concerned? Obviously selection is a big thing and that will be down to me to make the final call, obviously with the assistant of the coaches, but I'll make the final call.
"Will that change? I don't see it changing at all because I hope I've got good enough relationships that are trusted relationships that we can work together."
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