As footnotes in history go, it could be quite a game. Munster have always had a sense of "us against the rest" so the chance to take on the Rest of Ireland at Thomond Park today (5.00) should once again sit snugly with their psyche.
That applies to their supporters anyhow and so, completely leaving aside the possibility of a freshly pulled pint on Good Friday, a near capacity crowd is anticipated for this unique, one-off addition to the fixture list.
Essentially it has been devised as a badly needed preparatory game for Munster in advance of next weekend's European Cup semi-final with Stade Francais after 11 weeks without a match.
Five of this team missed last weekend's AIL matches through injury, while Dion O'Cuinneagain could well start despite eight months without a game and a 12hour overnight journey from Cape Town via Heathrow as a precursor to starting next week. Munster would probably have preferred something a mite lower-key, for the stakes are made higher by the presence of the entire Lions' management.
Clearly, all the borderline Irish cases now assume centre stage, and so these are two big games for Ronan O'Gara, Peter Clohessy, John Hayes and, perhaps, Anthony Foley. At least they have next week as well, unlike the Rest's Lions wannabees, while an additional carrot for others is the June 2nd Test against Romania.
It is believed that the Rest of Ireland have been asked not to start with exhibitionist tendencies, i.e., play pyjama rugby from the kick-off, but treat this "friendly" as a serious competitive fixture. One imagines they wouldn't need too much encouragement in that regard anyhow.
Reputations are on the line here to a degree, including the management team drawn from the other three provinces - manager Harry Williams, coach Matt Williams and assistant coach Steph Nel. Given their coaching philosophy, it will be a surprise if they don't play a wide game, all the more so as their three-quarter line is comprised entirely of players among the 67 on the original list of Lions' candidates whereas their Munster counterparts don't have any.
Admittedly, Shane Horgan and Tyrone Howe would have to go some way to revive their fringe candidature after the last two months' enforced idleness from representative rugby, while Brian O'Driscoll must be regarded as a shoe-in. Denis Hickie, though, could do with providing the attendant Lions' management a nudge in the ribs regarding his health, form and finishing ability.
Of the other two more obvious tourist hopefuls, again on the principle that Malcolm O'Kelly only has to stay sound and healthy to join the likes of Keith Wood and O'Driscoll on the flight to Oz, then one imagines that the Lions' management will focus much of their attention on Eric Miller. The fates appear to have conspired against him, given injury ruled him out of the opening two Six Nations' championship wins, but then again that didn't stop him subsequently making the 67man short list (which admittedly reads like something of an oxymoron). So where there's life there's hope, and having tasted it once, Miller wants it again, and bad.
For all of them, however, outside of the AIL this is their last big occasion of the season. Indeed, the word on the knowledgeable Munster grapevine is that the Rest are up for it in a big way. "The talent is undoubtedly there and the application from the fellas has been great all week," confirmed Matt Williams.
Yet, in the greater scheme of things, this game is more about what Munster get from today. It's a chance to polish off some ring rustiness, get re-acquainted with each other and the intensity of a representative-standard game, applying some of their patterns going forward while providing a preparatory benchmark for next week - and all without injuries. Given all that, losing is an option.
The Teams
MUNSTER: D Crotty (Garryowen); J Kelly (Cork Constitution), M Mullins (Young Munster), J Holland (Midleton), A Horgan (Cork Constitution); R O'Gara (Cork Constitution), T Tierney (Garryowen); P Clohessy (Young Munster), F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), J Hayes (Shannon), M Galwey (Shannon, capt), J Langford (Shannon), D O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution), A Foley (Shannon), AN Other. Replacements (from): J Staunton (Garryowen), J O'Neill (Shannon), K Keane (Garryowen), M Prendergast (Young Munster), M Horan (Shannon), J Blaney (Terenure College), P Bracken (Galwegians), M O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution), J Murray (Cork Constitution), C McMahon (Shannon), D O'Cuinneagain (Ballymena).
REST OF IRELAND: G Dempsey (Terenure College); D Hickie (St Mary's College), B O'Driscoll (Blackrock College), S Horgan (Lansdowne), T Howe (Ballymena); D Humphreys (Dungannon) (capt), B O'Meara (Cork Constitution); J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), S Byrne (Blackrock College), S Best (Belfast Harlequins), G Longwell (Ballymena), M O'Kelly (St Mary's College), E Miller (Terenure College), V Costello (St Mary's College), A Ward (Ballynahinch). Replacements: P Smyth (St Mary's College), M Cahill (Buccaneers), B Casey (Blackrock College), T McWhirter (Dungannon), G Easterby (Llanelli), E Elwood (Galwegians), J Bell (Dungannon).
Referee: A Lewis (IRFU).
