Just as they did two years ago, Ireland come into the Guinness Six Nations with Tadhg Furlong sidelined by a calf injury.
The Leinster tighthead's loss is still significant for Simon Easterby’s side, but there is now a far greater belief in Ireland’s ability to cope without him, in large part down to Finlay Bealham’s performances in that 2023 Grand Slam campaign.
The Connacht prop only played two and a half games before an MCL injury against Italy saw him miss the title run in - by which point Furlong was fit to return – but his performances in those games against Wales, France and Italy were enough for him to be named in the team of the tournament.
Fast forward to the present day, and Bealham (below) is now locked into Ireland’s matchday squad. He started all four games of the Autumn Nations Series in Furlong’s absence and there was no question of his starting position once the Leinster man was ruled out of the opener against England earlier this week.
He’ll win his 47th cap today at the Aviva Stadium, and has spent the last week imparting that experience to the squad’s two rookie tightheads, Thomas Clarkson and Jack Aungier.
"I'm the kinda father, the older man of the group," the 33-year-old says of his role in camp this week.
"We've got the two young lads, Jack and Tommy, and they're both doing really well.
"I see Jack playing every week with Connacht and then playing with Tom in the autumn, both of them are serious prospects. I'm obviously going to say this but tighthead is a pretty important position and to see them both doing well is unreal."
The lack of experience beneath Furlong (32) and Bealham (33) is an obvious talking point in Irish rugby at the moment, with no candidate yet to break into their monopoly of the 3 and 18 shirts on matchday.
Tom O’Toole has won 16 caps since 2021 but a suspension means he’s in danger of losing ground to Clarkson, while Munster’s Oli Jager (29) hasn’t been able to add to the sole cap he won 12 months ago following his return from New Zealand, and was overlooked for Aungier when Furlong pulled up injured last week.
Bealham, however, believes that competition on the right side of the scrum is only getting better.
"Tighthead is a really specific position, and to see lots of young athletes coming through, I mentioned Tom and Jack earlier, but even around the other provinces there are some young tightheads coming on the scene.
"There was chat a long time ago that there weren't many tightheads but it seems at the moment that we're quite blessed with really good tightheads and lots of young tightheads."
The Canberra native is a prime example that patience and experience are valuable ingredients in breeding Test quality props.
Having made his Ireland debut against Italy in 2016 (above), he was in and out of Ireland squads over the next four years, winning 14 caps across that period, before Andrew Porter’s switch to loosehead gave him an opportunity, which he seized.
Since then, the Connacht man has played in 32 of Ireland’s last 40 games. All going to plan, he’s in line to hit his half-century of caps during this championship.
"I could definitely read off my Irish caps any time you ask me it.
"Every time you pull on the jersey, it's an unbelievable honour to do that and I would definitely never forget how many caps I'm on at a given moment.
"When I started and got my first cap back in 2016, to be here now and on the verge of getting 50 caps would be unbelievable. For myself and my family, it would be something we'd be all extremely proud about.
"At the start of my career, I was in and then out for a good bit. I'd be in for a campaign but might not be back in for another 12 months or something like that. I've been really fortunate over the last few years to be in the squads and it's something I don't take for granted and value very much."
Between the tattoos and his trademark gameday braids, Bealham cuts an unmistakable look, a man comfortable in his own skin.
A big wrestling fan, he and Craig Casey put on a show for their team-mates on last summer’s tour of South Africa, the former dressed up as 'Kane’, and the scrum-half ‘a mixture of Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio.
"We welcome all the weirdness with open arms," Bealham adds.
"We have a really good environment here. Faz [Andy Farrell] obviously isn't here now but he encourages everyone to come in from day one and be yourself. I don't know if I'd show up to my first day in wrestling gear - maybe don't do that - but you try to be yourself as much as you can and all the lads are good craic.
"From day one, it's just an expectation to be yourself and bring what you've got to the table.
"Some people are different in their own individual ways, and some live in the awkward and some are a bit weird, but it's a great bunch of players and coaches and managers we have. There's such a special bond we have. It's truly special."
And as for the weirdest in camp? Bealham admits it’s a close race.
"There are so many weird people. Pete [O’Mahony] was saying the last day, he thinks he's one of the most normal in the team and he got shut down very quick. Pete is a weirdo. I couldn't say, there's too many."
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