A Test for inexperienced: Time was when A internationals were standard Friday night appetisers on Six Nations' weekends and the Irish side was picked very much as a second-string team, but this Friday's one-off return of the fixture against France at Donnybrook on Friday sees a notable change in approach with the selection of a relatively callow line-up.
A mere five of the starting line-up and only another three on the bench have any Test match experience, and much of that is fairly limited. Eddie O'Sullivan was keen to stress this was a relatively isolated case where he was keen to cast one eye on the future rather than pick a shadow Test side per se.
"We have picked some experienced guys like Alan Quinlan but we've also picked a lot of young guys because we need to be looking at this as an opportunity to give them some experience," said O'Sullivan. "In some instances we've picked a young player to start with and an experienced player on the bench, for example Paddy Wallace is at 10 and Paul Burke is on the bench if we need to call him on."
O'Sullivan said: "Thankfully, we're looking at having a full schedule of A matches again soon."
The selection is notable for having eight Ulster players in the starting line-up and O'Sullivan also highlighted backs at Leinster, such as the talented Kieran Lewis and David Quinlan, who receive comparatively little front-line representative rugby. Connacht's Bernard Jackman will captain the side.
Head to Head
High octane or should that be high altitude. Malcolm O'Kelly's meeting with Fabien Pelous on Saturday not only brings together the most capped players on the pitch (Pelous earning his 100th and O'Kelly his 72nd) but a pair of two-metre plus secondrows out to make an impression on the game.
Pelous, from Toulouse, leads by example and as captain brings a commanding presence to the French secondrow while O'Kelly still has an eye on the Lions tour in the summer. Both are almost taken for granted as first picks in their positions, Pelous a firmer fixture in the French pack than any other player.
The lineouts too will be an important theatre for the two big men to contest as both teams strive to create platforms for strong-running back lines. It might be a low-profile and work-driven combat between the two in rucks and mauls but their play in the loose and particularly in the set-pieces will shape the match.
Memory Lane
It might have been the first match of the championship back in 1948 and may have taken place in Stade Colombes but like Saturday's match in Lansdowne Road, Ireland had championship thoughts submerged beneath the immediate concerns of winning against France. Ireland, 57 years ago, travelled to France for the beginning of Irish rugby's phase called the "Golden Years". The team, led by two luminaries, Jack Kyle at outhalf and Karl Mullan in the pack, faced France on New Year's Day and surprisingly brought home a victory of 13-6.
Barney Mullan had returned to the three-quarter line for the game and left Paris with a try and two conversions to send Ireland on the road towards what would be one of their finest seasons ever.
England in Twickenham on February 14th was much tighter, Ireland again returning with a victory, this time by just one point, but with the luxury of playing their final two matches in Ireland.
The third of the series against Scotland in Lansdowne Road was low scoring, Mullan and Kyle collecting a try apiece as Ireland celebrated a 6-0 win, thus setting up what was to be a championship-deciding match against Wales, something which cannot be far from the heart of current Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan.
While Sullivan must travel to the Millennium Stadium for Ireland's final game this season, hopefully with thoughts of a Grand Slam, the '48 team arrived in Ravenhill Road to meet Wales with three wins and a victory over the touring Australians in their pockets.
At half-time the score was 3-3, Bleddyn Williams having equalled Mullan's try.
JC Daly added another for Ireland in the second half as the green shirts rose to the occasion, holding out until the final whistle and bridging a 49-year gap.
Manager Award
Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan was yesterday named as Philips Sports Manager of the Month for February following Ireland's outstanding start to the Six Nations Championship with wins in Stadio Flamino against Italy, Murrayfield against Scotland and more recently against England at Lansdowne Road.
A spinal chill for charity
"It will send a chill down our spines to see Lansdowne Road transformed into a sea of green on Saturday. This is the crowd's opportunity to play their part in what is a very exciting time for Irish rugby."
So says Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll as he expects the crowd to play their part by raising those green squares above their heads on Saturday.
What's going on you may well wonder. Well, it's for a decent cause as O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan and Denis Hickie have rowed in behind Aids Partnership in Africa (APA). With the full support of the IRFU and O2, APA is making this happen.
On the back of each A3 Green Card information will be given about APA, urging the Irish people to text HOPE to 57112. Cost of text is €1.50 with the proceeds going to the APA charity. Standard operating charges will apply.
Bookies corner
Paddy Power have thrown some Gallic flair into the Bookies corner this week - What live animal will the French be seen (on RTÉ) to be throw onto the pitch against Ireland: 7/4 Cockerel 20/1 Dog 20/1 Frog 20/1 George Hook 150/1 Horse 500 /1 Cow.
Cooper ruled out
Gareth Cooper has been ruled out of Wales' Six Nations Championship game against Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.
The Newport Gwent Dragons scrumhalf suffered an ankle injury playing for a Northern Hemisphere select side in last Saturday's IRB Tsunami Aid match.
The 25-year-old, who looked set to continue on the Wales replacements' bench as cover for Dwayne Peel, could also be unavailable for a possible Grand Slam decider against Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday week.
Mike Phillips, Peel's Llanelli Scarlets colleague, is now likely to take Cooper's bench spot when Wales coach Mike Ruddock announces the side for Edinburgh today.
