He's been there, done that and bought the T-shirt. First as a player, in both 1987 and 1991, then as fan-cum-travel agent in 1995 and now, in 1999, as a manager. No prizes for guessing then, which one Donal Lenihan has enjoyed the most.

"In '95 I was an outstanding leader for Gulliver's Travels. I was a fantastic supporters' leader. It was without doubt my best World Cup, without question the most enjoyable I've had. I even got to see the final."

Nor is that viewpoint apt to change after the World Cup. Management responsibilities incorporate twice as much pressure as '87 and '91 combined. There is, needless to say, no comparison between back then and now. "It's totally different; 1987 was a different concept of a World Cup," says the captain of that '87 World Cup squad. "Like when you look back at it now and you think about it, we were told not to play any matches for eight weeks before the competition - it was absolutely ridiculous."

Still aggrieved by that flawed preparation, Lenihan warms to his theme. "We had beaten Wales in the opening match in Wellington and we had beaten them (earlier that year) in Cardiff. The only reason we lost the game was because we had no match fitness, and they went on to be third in the world."

"I have no doubt we could have gone the same route. They played England in the quarter-finals, who we had beaten 17-0 in Lansdowne Road, also in '87. That was a good (Irish) side with a good draw. But there were two other key elements. One was Nigel Carr's famous bomb incident on the way to Dublin. That had a huge effect on the squad, and we also lost Harry Harbison through injury before the first match.

"We'd had a good season, we'd also beaten Romania 60-0. There were a lot of the same personnel as the (Triple Crown-winning) side of '85, but way more experienced, so I have no doubt we lost an opportunity there through lack of preparation more than anything."

Officialdom's suspicions about the advent of a World Cup concept had eased four years later. Ireland came closer too, though ironically he had never watched extended highlights of the famous quarter-final against Australia until Tuesday night's RTE re-run of the game.

"I knew the atmosphere on the day was great but I hadn't actually realised just how fanatical the whole thing was. The irony of the whole thing is - and we're talking about preparations - we were actually out here (Finnstown House); the bus driver got lost on the way to the game and we arrived at the ground at literally 12.25. So it was literally run into the dressing-room, put on your gear and get out. It throws all the preparation out the window, so who knows, we might try that next week against Australia," he quips.

In terms of the physical shape and the fitness of the players, he believes they're better than they've ever been. Ireland being Irish, of course, unfortunately the in-house warm-up performances have been just as undistinguished as '91, but now that the squad are finally together and free to focus purely on the World Cup he doesn't see those hiccups as a problem.

Indeed so pronounced is the difference in the players' attitudes this week compared to the warm-up games that the management's role has undertaken a complete volte face. Where a few weeks ago it was a question of geeing them up, now "it's a question of holding them back. It's a bit like that already," he admitted, after yesterday's edgy and even tetchy session in King's Hospital.

Comparing the make-up of the Irish '99 vintage to its precursors, Lenihan reckons: "I would say in '91 we had a very good pack. In modern terms I would say this pack is as good and probably better.

"I think we had probably more individual flair in some positions with the likes of your Geoghegans and your Mullins, and your Staples. But as a back-line I think there have been signs there for the last four or five months that things are coming together.

"There is a good blend of youth and experience there, so I think the balance is probably better than in previous World Cups."

Lenihan is more than a little "fascinated" at the sudden outpouring of media optimism. "We've taken a lot criticism and suddenly the headlines are: `Ireland to make the semi-finals.' I found it quite comical but we have our own goals. The semi-final would be a fantastic achievement, and that is what we are aiming for."

If so, he admits it would give him more pleasure than any comparative achievement as a player. "When you play, in many respects you only have to worry about yourself; get your own performance right. When you're managing the team there's so many variables there. There's so many signs you look for in players; who's up for it, who isn't, who's down. When you're away as long as we are, some players react differently to others. Form comes into it."

He's an avid GAA fan, and has followed both Cork teams all the way to both finals. He'd love to see the advent of the colour seen at Croker these past two years - and once off by Ulster's fans at the European Cup final - transported to Lansdowne Road. He looks forward to the day when Headquarters will be a sea of green. "That national identity would be very important. That's what I'd love to see in Lansdowne Road."

A branch manager with his accommodating employers (and Irish team sponsors) Irish Permanent Building Society in Cork, from whom he's currently on leave of absence again, his relatively recent experiences as a player undoubtedly have helped him in his role as manager over the last year and a half.

Where some of his predecessors might have had the charge "union lackey" levelled at them, no such accusation can be levelled at Lenihan. He's been a player's manager from the outset, deals with the media effortlessly and efficiently, and has organised a close-knit team of 40, including players and back-up staff.

He wouldn't take any credit for that, but he still says with some pride "we're lucky that we have a great management group. Of the 10 people with us, nine have been there for 16 months. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is fully committed to getting the best out of the team. There's no one doing this for their own glorification and I think that comes across. And I think the players know that and feel that themselves."

So, as someone who knows better than anyone then, no excuses this time. After all, that's part of his remit.