It may have spilled over at times but the edge in the Leinster-Munster URC derby at the weekend was exactly what the Ireland coaches want to see, according to John Fogarty.
Defending champions Leinster went into the Croke Park clash having won 14 of the last 16 meetings and all previous four.
Munster came in with a point to prove, with only four from the province selected in Andy Farrell's Autumn Series squad compared to 21 Leinster men.
Leo Cullen’s side led early on but ending up shipping four tries and lost 31-14, thanks in large part to an aggressive defensive performance by the visitors.
It was a brutal contest, with numerous players replaced through injury, while there were a couple of bouts of pushing and shoving.
But that animosity is out of the system now, says scrum coach Fogarty, speaking shortly after the 36-man squad, with Munster centre Tom Farrell and Leinster back Jimmy O’Brien added, assembled for matches against New Zealand, Japan, Australia and South Africa.
"There was a good laugh among the players," he said about this morning's reunion in Blanchardstown.
"Look, the Leinster players will be disappointed, I'm sure.
"The Munster players, one or two of them, with their performance, there's always going to be some bits of disappointment.
"Leinster will be hurting a little bit, but they'll turn the page unbelievably quick.
"You come into Irish camp, you start to get your head around the fixtures. Andy had a chat this morning, the page has turned unbelievably fast.
"There's a great harmony among the players in camp.
"They're good friends, they're good mates and you don't want to lose to your friends.
"That rivalry is alive and well and long may it continue.
"It's good for Irish rugby. All the provinces are performing well, it's a good thing for Irish rugby.
"There is no issue here with us, we're excited to get into a green jersey, get on a plane tomorrow and start to dream big about this November and whatever's after that."
On the extra edge that was evident as Munster recorded a first regular-season win over their rivals since 2014, Fogarty said: "That's the way it should be. I've been involved in a few of those games and they're different.
"They're competitive, proud players that want to show the best of themselves for the provinces and it gives us a point of difference.
"With any Irish team, we want players to be fighting hard for their positions, we want it to be unbelievably competitive, we want to see an edge, so there's no issue.
"The guys know each other very well and they should be expecting that competitive nature and edge in games. Munster delivered it and congratulations to them, it was a cracking game."
Out-half Jack Crowley was the official player of the match, but Munster’s solitary British and Irish Lion Tadhg Beirne (below) could also easily have taken the award.
Leinster were able to call on 12 Lions in their squad but failed to match their opponents’ hunger for the battle.
"I've looked at it with my small lens," added the former Munster, Connacht and Leinster hooker when asked why the champions, who have lost three of their four opening games, didn't turn up.
"There was a hunger throughout the game, I think, across the Munster side that was evident for everyone to see and in a game like rugby, that counts.
"There's way more to it. The coaches have done an unbelievably good job. Players were in the right frame of mind and they went to work really, really well.
"They defended really well, they attacked well when they had to and yeah, look, it was great. It was a pleasure.
"Like I said, the scrum was probably dominant from Leinster and that's the area I was looking very closely at."
The weekend’s URC action did come a cost ,however, with Leinster players Robbie Henshaw (groin), Paddy McCarthy (head) and Connacht’s Bundee Aki (hip) being assessed this week.
They remain in contention to face the All Blacks in Chicago but Connacht wing Mack Hansen (below) won't feature in that game after aggravating a foot injury in the act of scoring a try in their 28-27 defeat to Bulls.
"He'll be very disappointed," said Fogarty of the 27-year-old, who has been capped 28 times.
"It's a huge November and a huge opportunity to play against the best in the world so any player that's not going to make it is going to be disappointed. And so are we, we think he's a world class player.
"It's exciting, the guys coming in, Tom Farrell and Jimmy.
"I'm taking some credit for Tom, I coached him at Under-20s with Leinster.
"I told him downstairs I was trying to get him in for a long time now so I'm glad he's here.
"It's brilliant for him, he's buzzing as well, so hugely excited for him."
Munster forwards Edwin Edogbo (above) and Brian Gleeson were due to travel as cover to the United States but both suffered injuries in the victory.
Lock Edogbo, who made his comeback after a lengthy lay-off in round three, is going through return-to-play protocols ahead a head injury, while back row Gleeson requires surgery on an elbow injury.
"Without a doubt, [they’ll be back]," said Fogarty. "We're excited about both those players.
"The timing of it is so disappointing for them, it really is. I know Edwin's had a really difficult couple of years.
"They'll get over their injuries and they'll be back, there's no doubt about it.
"They're both exciting young players that can add in here and that's the reason they've been brought."
