If the shape of Declan Kidney's rise through the mists of the Irish rugby jungle from Presentation Brothers College, Cork to provincial and international level is a template for former PBC pupils to follow, Anthony Horgan can look forward to a turn in career fortune.
Kidney coached Horgan in school, then took up the guiding role when the young winger came into the Munster team. When Kidney departs to partner Eddie O'Sullivan at the end of Munster's season, it will be a dream of Horgan to follow him, or rather, that career direction.
Having played with the Irish under-21s and Ireland A team, Horgan has yet to make the final step up and continues to modestly chase that ambition.
As a permanent fixture with Munster over the last several years, a low centre of gravity winger with fearsome acceleration and an appetite for running the ball, Horgan's recent form has picked up from what he himself describes as a slow start to the year.
"Last month I started getting into things," he said. "At the start of the season I feel I let myself down a bit, but the last few games have been good to me and I'm happy now with the way things have gone.
"Sure, it's everybody's ambition to play for their country. I'll leave it to Dec and Eddie when they get into the set-up, but obviously the two guys, Denis (Hickie) and Shane (Horgan), have been doing well."
This week, Horgan's focus will centre on his opposite number with Ulster, Sheldon Coulter, with whom he played on the Irish under-21 side. Then the Ulster player was fixed in the centre doing his best to feed Horgan the ball. In Lansdowne Road on Saturday, they will be more inclined to bury each other. An interesting change of roles.
"It will be tight. They (Ulster) will know what to expect from us and we'll know what to expect from them. It looks like Shelly (Coulter) will be in there. We've played together on the Irish under-21s. He's a good player," says Horgan.
The muted praise after the most recent performances has been faintly critical of both sides. Munster were perceived to be a little flat in defeating Llanelli to set up the Ulster clash, while Alan Solomons' side again looked to a second-half effort from David Humphreys and his boot to take them past Neath at Ravenhill Road.
"On Monday, we'd a speed session and Declan was there asking us how it went," he says. "I know the papers were having a go at us because of the way we beat Llanelli, but we don't care so long as we win. We're feeling grand. We'll be fresh for Saturday."
Now 24, Horgan is coming into his best years. He has played at full back in the past, but has been singled out as more effective on the wing. Bandaged around his left hamstring against Llanelli, the measure was precautionary rather than medical. He'll gladly take his place and his legs will be fine for the reunion with Coulter and Ulster.
Kidney has undoubtedly been an important influence, as he has been on other PBC players currently on the Munster side, Lions and Ireland outhalf Ronan O'Gara included.
"He's (Kidney) definitely had a big influence on my game and I think he's been able to bring out the best in players," says Horgan. "And he is very good one to one. You try to do what he tells you. . . of course, you'll get a bollocking if you don't."
