This week the Rugby season moves into top gear, and it is thanks (in part) the the cider sponsored multi-nation tournament as two of the leagues three previous European Champions come head to head in the shiny new Aviva stadium.
Of course, Munster and Leinster have more than just history, they are hated rivals and the best of friends. Like a set of brothers who bruise and batter eachother daily in an effort to claim the mantle of top dog.
The eastern province, having toughened up a front eight, have been the dominant force in recent seasons but in this campaign, all the unwanted attention is on new coach Joe Schmidt after his troops have managed only one win in his six game tenure.
However, Brian O'Driscoll. Yesterday took the onus off his coach and placed it firmly on the shoulders of his teammates:
"We feel we have left a lot of our best rugby behind us in the last few weeks and we have a point, as players, to prove, in that we haven't become a bad team overnight. There is a huge onus on player responsibility this weekend to front up individually and then as a team, collectively.
"We haven't changed dramatically our coaching methods or tried to adopt a new philosophy in the game. It is just a case of individual players having a responsibility to perform and I don't think that has been the case so far."
Those individual players will not include (from the start) Eoin Reddan, who is omitted to allow Isaac Boss operate with the quicker ruck ball the modern game offers. A half back partner for Boss will be a last minute call as Schmidt is waiting to hear more on the fitness of Jonny Sexton. The out half has been named in starting Xv's twice this season only to be withdrawn shortly before kick off so do not be surprised if Isa Nacewa again wears the number 10 jersey.
Munster are expected to omit some of their talismanic figures in favour of new blood, who will have form and match fitness as their advantage. Marcus Horan, John Hayes, Mick O'Driscoll and David Wallace are all expected to start from the bench when Tony McGahan names his side later this afternoon.
You'd be forgiven for thinking this was the only game this weekend, but due to the Ryder Cup Connacht have already played the weekends first match. An 80 minutes best forgotten; the men from the west fell to a 22-6 defeat in Cardiff. A penalty in each half from Ian Keatley was Connacht's only response to the Blues who registered a try through Casey Laulala's and 14 points from Dan Parks.
Ulster will be led out by Rory Best tonight in Ravenhill as they face Glasgow. But the much anticipated debut of Ruan Pienaar will grab the limelight. He is joined in the starting lineup by his countrymen Joann Muller and Pedrie Wannenburg.
Niall O'Conner comes in at fly half allowing Paddy Wallace to revert to inside centre as Simon Danielli returns from injury to take his place on the wing.
Ulster (v Glasgow): J Smith; A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, S Danielli; N O'Connor, R Pienaar B Young, R Best (Capt), T Court, J Muller, D Tuohy, P Wannenburg, C Henry, R Diack
Replacements N Brady, P McAllister, A Whitten, T Barker, W Faloon, P Marshall, I Whitten
Leinster (v Munster): R Kearney; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton/I Nacewa, I Boss; C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross, N Hines, D Toner, D Ryan, S O'Brien, J Heaslip (capt).
Replacements: J Harris-Wright, H van der Merwe, S Shawe, M Galarza, R Ruddock, E Reddan, I Nacewa/I Madigan, F McFadden.
Munster (probable v Leinster): P Warwick; D Howlett, L Mafi, S Tuitoupou, J Murphy; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley, D O'Callaghan, D Ryan, A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Leamy.
Replacements: S Henry, M Horan, J Hayes, M O'Driscoll, D Wallace, P Stringer and two from D Hurley/S Deasy/D Barnes.
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