THOMOND PARK has seen some great matches down the years and tomorrow it will be the venue for a unique occasion - the first meeting of a province against the national team, when Munster play what is termed an Irish XV.

The match is part of Ireland's preparation for the seven internationals they will play this season and brings into direct confrontation members of the Ireland squad in a competitive environment. "That is really one of the great values we see in this match and the game we will play against Leinster in a week's time," Ireland's manager, Pat Whelan, said.

I have no doubt at all it will be competitive, that is inevitable when you put a province in against what amounts to a national side. There is an incentive there for any team and of course there is an incentive for every player on an individual basis in the international context," added Whelan.

No one knows better than Whelan, the competitive nature of Munster rugby and Munster teams, he was for a long time a central figure for the province and figured in their most famous win against the All Blacks.

Bearing in mind the ongoing success of Monster teams in the Insurance Corporation All Ireland league, there has been a feeling that Munster's representation on the national team has not been reflected in that success. This match represents a chance for Monster to prove a few points.

Colm Tucker, manager of the Munster side sees the match as a special occasion. We see it as a great honour to have the Irish team in Thomond Park and we will be doing our best to win this match, " he said.

On the issue of direct confrontation, nothing will be more interesting than the duel of the scrum halves. Niall Hogan, the man in possession on the Ireland side and captain of the team, will be faced by Stephen McIvor, an Ireland squad member and a player who many see as a very viable challenger to Hogan for the place on the Ireland team.

The performances of the respective full backs Simon Mason for Ireland and the highly promising Dominic Crotty for Monster will be eagerly awaited. Crotty, the Irish under 21 international, is a member of the national squad and this match represents a great chance for him.

The confrontation in the centre between Jonathan Bell and Maurice Field for Ireland and Rob Henderson, making his debut for Munster and Brian Walsh - all four are squad members will be another aspect of the match that could be revealing.

The forward exchanges should be full hearted and Nick Popplewell will be opposed by Gary Halpin, who makes his debut for Monster and he, of course, opted out of the international scene last season after being selected in the national panel. Shane Byrne gets a chance at hooker for the Irish side.

Mick Galwey, the forgotten man as far as the national side was concerned last season - the best he managed was a place on the bench for the Ireland A team - leads Munster from the second row and partners Gabriel Fulcher against Jeremy Davidson and Malcolm O'Kelly, who was called in to the Irish XV when Paddy Johns was claimed by his club Saracens for a league match tomorrow.

There will be little quarter given among the four second rows and important line out possession will be at issue here.

Eddie Halvey had a frustrating year last season because of injury and his rather brief flirtation with the scene in England ended when he returned to Shannon from Saracens. He will have his club mate Anthony Foley and Barry Walsh as his colleagues in the Munster back row with the uncapped Stuart Duncan, the Malone and Ulster flanker getting his chance in the Irish back row, where Victor Costello's forceful driving may be in evidence.

David Corkery stands by to replace Denis McBride, who has a neck injury, on the open side flank for the Irish team. It is an important occasion for Halley and indeed for Foley, whose international career dipped into the A realm after the 1995 World Cup.

Altogether it should be a revealing exercise for the Ireland selectors who will select the side to meet Leinster after the match. I have little doubt, too, that Monster will not lack vocal encouragement for the Limerick rugby public are sure to turn out in their thousands to support their team.

With so many of the players involved with their clubs today Whelan and his managerial colleagues are hoping that last minute changes will not be forced upon them.

In that regard the match at Sonbury between London Irish and Northampton today will have eight of the players in action with Bell, the odd man out as he plays for Northampton. That match will be watched by Ireland coach Murray Kidd and selector Donal Lenihan.

On the domestic front the Leinster Senior League starts today and there is a also a league programme in Ulster. In Munster the competitive activity is cent red on the Charity Cup competitions in Cork and Limerick.