Ireland v Italy:There's an old maxim about being careful what you wish for, lest it come true, a sentiment to which Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan would subscribe to in the wake of the Bayonne affair, reports John O'Sullivan
The clarity of hindsight suggests the fixture against the French club was courting potential problems, unfortunately realised in the injury suffered by captain Brian O'Driscoll. O'Sullivan spoke before the game about his desire to see his team take on a tough, physical challenge that couldn't be replicated in training.
It was a reasonable aspiration in the fine-tuning process for the upcoming World Cup. He wasn't to know that certain Bayonne players would opt to "enhance" their reputations with fists, elbows and fingers that would inevitably elicit a response from the Irish players.
Tonight at Ravenhill, O'Sullivan will be hoping the physical collisions are of a more genuine nature: they certainly should be. Italy's reputation in the Test arena is based on tough, abrasive forward play, underpinned by passion and commitment.
Under the guidance of the former French international scrumhalf and coach Pierre Berbizier they have made significant strides towards a more rounded game, manifest in an improvement in their back play.
There's still scope for development in the latter respect but in the Six Nations Championship just past, the Italians not alone won but entertained in the process.
There are still one or two issues for Berbizier behind the scrum not least finding an outhalf who brings both presence and assured guidance to the backline. Ramiro Pez has been largely unconvincing, most recently in their victory over Japan, but a shoulder injury means Roland de Marigny is handed the number 10 jersey.
It is the Italian pack though that will pose the most stringent examination for their hosts. A punishing scrum anchored by tighthead prop, Leicester's Martin Castrogiovanni, is augmented by a strong lineout in which captain Marco Bortolami is a totem; much as he is in every facet as one of world rugby's outstanding forwards.
The absence of Mauro Bergamasco and Sergio Dellape denies the visitors some additional hard-nosed quality but they can be guaranteed to scrap for every single ball at ruck and maul. Ireland can expect a bruising encounter but one not likely to stray too far from the laws.
O'Sullivan will be heartened by that expectation because the words rugby and friendly can't really be accommodated in the same sentence. There will be lumps and bruises aplenty in the aftermath but Ireland will be appreciably further down the track when it comes to match hardness to use the rugby vernacular. The Irish coach has selected his strongest team available, the injuries to David Wallace, Shane Horgan and O'Driscoll notwithstanding.
Peter Stringer, who was bothered by a back strain, came through the captain's run last night and a final decision on his fitness will be taken closer to kick-off.
Neil Best receives another chance to broaden his backrow education. He'll be hoping this particular unit gels a little better rather than relying on individual cameos.
Paul O'Connell leads the side in name and the likelihood is that it will be in deed too. He'll demand that the Irish pack take up the gauntlet thrown down by the visitors. As mock exams go, this test will be strikingly close to the finals in Paris, where France and Argentina represent the honours syllabus.
O'Sullivan won't want to reveal all his attacking gambits ahead of the World Cup but the simple tenets of rugby still apply nonetheless: it'll be about winning ball, keeping it and using it productively. Ireland will look to put pace on the game and create space for their talented backs.
Andrew Trimble gets an opportunity in arguably his best position of outside centre and it'll be instructional to note how the new midfield partnership fares, the Ulsterman in tandem with Gordon D'Arcy.
The players have already spoken warmly about the reception they have received in Belfast as Test rugby returns to Ravenhill for the first time since 1954. It is an intimidating arena when Ulster take the field and there's no reason why the 14,000 sell-out crowd is likely to be less passionate in their support of tonight's home team.
Ireland played Italy in a warm-up game prior to departing for the 2003 World Cup in Australia.
On that occasion the match took place at Thomond Park and the Irish triumphed 61-6. That margin won't be repeated tonight for many reasons.
O'Sullivan's preoccupation will be performance not points difference because it'll offer a more realistic appraisal of where Ireland stands on the threshold of the World Cup.