The team announcement was conducted pitch-side at Dr Hickey Park in Greystones, following a relatively brief training session beneath the warm summer sunshine. There was a relaxed air to the proceedings on and off the pitch but lurking beneath the general affability one sensed a determination that Saturday's test match against Romania in Bucharest (12.0 Irish time) is far from an irritant as far as the coaching staff and players are concerned.
The absence of Ireland's `Lions six' who depart for Australia this week has created opportunities for others to stake an early claim and lay down markers for the six autumn/winter internationals. The Romanian game also offers an opportunity to vent the frustrations of a Six Nations Championship campaign that began so auspiciously only to fizzle out when the foot and mouth intervened.
Coach Warren Gatland's mission statement for Bucharest was simple and emphatic: he wants the team to win well, playing the brand of rugby that has proved so entertainingly effective. "It was disappointing the way the season ended. Now we have an opportunity to show that there is a bit of depth to the squad and that we are capable of playing well even without our Lions players.
"We have to show that we are a professional outfit." He went on to refer to a historic tendency to struggle against teams when strongly favoured, pointing out that it was time to lay that bogey to rest and identifying the hard mental attitude required to do so: no excuses accepted.
The team itself was largely predictable, Leicester's Geordan Murphy winning the full back role ahead of Girvan Dempsey, the latter sidelined for the past seven weeks through injury. Assistant coach Eddie O'Sullivan pointed this out, suggesting that it offered Murphy the opportunity to re-establish a claim that faltered somewhat against Japan and then while playing for Ireland A against South Africa, an assessment with which the player would concur.
Denis Hickie and Tyrone Howe are the first choice wingmen while Mike Mullins and Kevin Maggs form a powerful midfield combination. Maggs in particular has been unfortunate in that Australia bound Rob Henderson has played so well this season at inside centre; the Bath man will relish Saturday's opportunity.
David Humphreys should have a central role against Romania, particularly on the back of a crisp service from Peter Stringer. Indeed the match is likely to offer a contrast of styles with Ireland looking to move the ball wide and as Gatland pointed out: "Romania looking to take us on in the scrams scrums and the lineouts. They are a big physical side."
Frankie Sheahan receives a welcome start at hooker but it seems certain that Shane Byrne at the tender age of 29 will win a first Irish cap when introduced at some stage. The Blackrock College stalwart has recovered from knee and ankle injuries that saw him miss the last four club matches of the season.
The pack boasts a familiar appearance, Peter Clohessy and John Hayes at prop, Galwey in the second row where he will partner Gary Longwell and a fit again Eric Miller and Kieron Dawson partnering Anthony Foley in the backrow. Dawson returns at the expense of Garryowen flanker David Wallace who as Gatland pointed out had not played 80 minutes of rugby since Munster's defeat in Lille.
The replacements will be chosen from a panel of nine players who will fly out along with the team to Bucharest today. The only other uncapped player in the 24, Cork Constitution's promising second row Mick O'Driscoll. Jonathan Bell has recovered from a twisted ankle sustained in the AIB League final.
As to the challenge that Romania will present? The most recent formguide is that they were recently beaten at home in the final of the Six Nations B Championship by Georgia.
IRELAND: G Murphy (Leicester); D Hickie (St Mary's College), M Mullins (Young Munster), K Maggs (Bath), T Howe (Dungannon); D Humphreys (Dungannon), P Stringer (Shannon); P Clohessy (Young Munster), F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), J Hayes (Shannon); M Galwey (Shannon, capt), G Longwell (Ballymena); E Miller (Terenure College), A Foley (Shannon), K Dawson (London Irish). Replacements from: S Byrne (Blackrock College), J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), M O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution), D Wallace (Garryowen), A Ward (Ballynahinch), G Easterby (Llanelli), P Burke (Harlequins), G Dempsey (Terenure College), J Bell (Dungannon).
