Ireland captain Dan Sheehan dismissed talk of a decline in Irish rugby as "nonsense" as they prepare to resume their Nations Championship campaign against Argentina on Friday.
Head coach Andy Farrell admitted this week that his team have work to do if they are to be contenders at next year's Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Following the match against the Pumas, Ireland host Fiji and world champions South Africa in Dublin ahead of finals weekend at Twickenham later this month.
Hooker Sheehan is deputising for injured skipper Caelan Doris this month.
"I've full confidence in this group," said the 28-year-old. "I think reminding myself and the group of the quality we have...sometimes you hear outside noise about 'is this a transitioning time for Irish rugby?' or 'is this a decline in Irish rugby?' and I think it's all nonsense really.
"Making sure we keep our confidence in what we have, in the personnel we have, the coaches we have, in the group, it's all set up perfectly for us.
"I think it's just doubling down on our work ethic and making sure we fully back ourselves."
Ireland began the southern hemisphere leg of the Nations Championship in July with wins over Australia and Japan before a 40-21 defeat in New Zealand.
Farrell's side are third in the world rankings, behind the Springboks and the All Blacks, but ahead of back-to-back Six Nations champions France.
However, they have lost their past six tests against those three teams and have struggled to reach the heights of the previous World Cup cycle, which ended with a quarterfinal defeat to New Zealand.
Sheehan admitted that Ireland needed to improve in several areas.
"We've a few things to tidy up but I don't think we're a million miles off," he said.
"I think we can all feel we have the talent in the group and we're going in the right direction if we can put all of our minds together."