Ireland welcome England to the Aviva Stadium today for the second of their Summer Nations Series matches ahead of the Rugby World Cup, which starts in three weeks' time.
Without the jeopardy of Six Nations points or a Grand Slam on the table these these warm-up matches exist in the grey zone.
Yes, they will tell you they are full international Test matches to be respected, but this close to a World Cup, and with the prospect of suffering an injury that may mean missing out on the showpiece tournament, there's other factors to be considered.
We've seen it over the last couple of weeks with Italy’s Tomasso Memoncello, England’s Jack van Poortvliet and most notably, France’s star out-half Romain Ntamack, all out of contention.
This fixture 12 years ago also saw flanker David Wallace suffer a knee injury that meant he would not be available for the trip to New Zealand.
It’s part of the game but at the same time that doesn’t mean that the players are fully able to jettison niggling doubts in the same way that they might in a game with a title on the line.
So what do the teams want from this match?
Get out of Dodge injury-free and dust off the cobwebs are the goals: performance and result are the gravy.
Ireland, understandably "clunky" in the 33-17 win against Italy, have named an entirely different starting team and, with the exceptions of Ross Byrne for the suspended Johnny Sexton, and Cian Prendergast for Caelan Doris, look close to what Andy Farrell would select for a match against South Africa at the World Cup.
Byrne, who was at the helm back in 2019 when England demolished Ireland in a warm-up in Twickenham, gets a chance to operate behind an almost full-strength pack. His only previous start for Ireland in the last three years came against Italy in the Six Nations.
Prior to that you have to go back to the Autumn Nations Cup in 2020 when he started in Twickenham, and before that came the infamous loss in London.
"Playing England at home, there's always a bit of pressure. Lads are keen to make a statement" says Ireland captain James Ryan ahead of tomorrow's Rugby World Cup warm-up in Dublin | Watch live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer from 4.45pm . Full story: https://t.co/xvWOE8ouTI pic.twitter.com/n47W65MdjX
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) August 18, 2023
"There is too much made of that," said Farrell when asked if this was a chance to exorcise any remaining demons.
"There is a reason why your fly-half has a poor day at the office, it's probably because your team didn’t function. I remember our lineout service that day wasn’t red hot for him which puts the 10 behind the eight ball anyway.
"Ross would have learnt from those experiences and I’m sure with the experiences he has had over the last four years, he is delighted to get this opportunity to play this weekend."
Jack Crowley’s late-season form saw him enter the conversation about who is Sexton’s back-up so this is a perfect chance for Byrne to sway Farrell’s thinking back in his favour.
Prendergast is the surprise inclusion and gets his shot with Jack Conan sidelined with an injury.
Caelan Doris, who starts on the bench today, is the likely go-to number 8 when business gets serious but the Connacht man's elevation, over Gavin Coombes – one of five cut from the training panel midweek – suggests that he has impressed at training and earned a shot.
A big performance from the 23-year-old, called a "warrior" by Farrell during the week, making his first start, could book his place on the plane.
That Steve Borthwick has named a very strong England side, with a point or two to prove after an underwhelming Six Nations and two forgettable games against Wales, goes in Byrne and Prendergast’s favour: shine here and there’ll be no talk of not being tested against a 'proper’ team.
In Owen Farrell's absence, George Ford steps in at 10 and flanker Courtney Lawes has been named captain.
The pack also includes Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola, while Freddie Stewart, Anthony Watson and Manu Tuilagi bolster the backs.
The Irish line-up has 11 of the starters who beat England 29-16 to claim the Grand Slam in March: Garry Ringrose, Ross Byrne, Tadhg Beirne and Prendergast the new faces, while England retain seven from that match: Stewart, Tuliagi, Watson, Genge, George, Itoje and David Ribbans .
As for the numbers, Ireland are on a record home winning streak that stretches to 15 games and have beaten England in their last three meetings. A fourth success would equal the golden era between 2004 and 2007.
Farrell’s side have also won their last 11 Tests in total, a run that includes a series win in New Zealand and a Grand Slam, form is on their side.
The visitors, meanwhile, beat Wales 19-17 last weekend, a victory that ended a three-game losing run.
There's an old cliché about Ireland-England matches not needing any extra spice in the build-up because the sporting animosity between the nations, and, let’s be honest, on Ireland’s side more than England’s, is always enough to get the juices flowing.
IRELAND v ENGLAND: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
And the fact that Ireland go in to this fixture as the number one ranked side in the world and off the back of a strong spring showing, three weeks out from a World Cup had set it up nicely.
But the "circus" around the fall-out from Owen Farrell's sending off last weekend sent the hype machine into overdrive and while the Saracens man's terrible tackle technique was the catalyst, the subsequent process has been an complete embarrassment for rugby bosses, who have laboured the fact that player welfare is their number one priority.
Let's hope this sorry mess comes to an end early next week when World Rugby's appeal against the overturning of the red card is heard.
The other big storyline of the match is Ireland wing Keith Earls who'll earn his 100th cap off the bench.
Few in Irish rugby are as highly regarded as the Limerick man and the cheer that awaits him will be memorable. He'll enjoy his moment but earning a place in the 33-man squad is the target for the 35-year-old.
Verdict: Ireland
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan (capt); Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Cian Prendergast.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Jeremy Loughman, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, Caelan Doris, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Keith Earls.
England: Freddie Steward; Anthony Watson, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stuart; Maro Itoje, David Ribbans; Courtney Lawes (capt), Ben Earl, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Ollie Chessum, Jack Willis, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Ollie Lawrence.
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR).
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