THOUGH IRELAND'S world ranking has slipped to eighth, and Canada are 15th, that gap scarcely reflects the gulf in class for tomorrow's rendezvous in Thomond Park.
Professionalism has merely accentuated the gulf since Ronan O'Gara's last-gasp penalty earned Ireland a 27-27 draw when the countries last met over eight years ago, and, from an Irish viewpoint, this match serves as a work-out prior to the Croke Park meetings with New Zealand and Argentina.
"I suppose you've got to look at it that way," admitted Irish assistant/backs coach Alan Gaffney yesterday, "and that's not being disrespectful to Canada at all. But when you're going in against the number one in the world (New Zealand) and Argentina, who are in the top bracket of international rugby, then Canada, who would be one of the minnows, is a good game for us, but it's a game that we will not take likely by any stretch of the imagination. A win is extremely important but equally the performance. We've got to go out and play in the manner we want to perform for the following two weeks."
For Gaffney, this week marks a poignant return to a city and ground he knows so well from his three years coaching Munster, not to mention treks there with Leinster.
"It's nice to be back (in Limerick). Absolutely. It's a very nice feeling. It's a very impressive stadium," he said.
Recalling Ireland's last game here, when they beat Italy 61-6 in a World Cup warm-up game just over five years ago, Gaffney added: "Thomond is very suitable for this game, it's great for Canada to come down and play in a place like Thomond. I know from talking to Australians who played here in the (1999) World Cup and they have very fond memories of Limerick."
The game would be lost in a bigger venue, even if were Lansdowne Road available, but it is not yet a 28,000 sell-out and tickets will be available at the Munster Branch offices today as well as outside the ground tomorrow.
"I'm expecting a difficult contest," maintained Gaffney. "They're not a full team of professional players, we understand that, but what we've got to do is pay them a great deal of respect. And that's in keeping with what happens here, the Munster ethos where you pay respect to the people you play against.
"They've got some good footballers, James Pritchard comes from the same club I do back in Australia, he's playing over in England in Division One. He scores a lot of points, he's got some pace, an excellent goal-kicker.
"And they've got it (good players) right through, (with Kevin) Tchakuk in the forwards, so they'll give us a contest, there's no doubt."
This has been Gaffney's first chance to work with Keith Earls. "You can't argue with how impressive Keith has been this year in all his performances. It will be a great occasion for him playing in Thomond in his first international.
"We've picked a very strong side, there's a lot of guys in good form at the moment, a lot of guys who have put their hand up for selection. Deccie's gone down this path and I think it's going to be a great occasion and one Keith will long remember."
Ireland will finalise their bench today when they decide whether David Wallace or Alan Quinlan will be among the replacements. Gaffney conceded everyone was starting off a blank sheet.
"There's no doubt about that. The boys that haven't been picked have been extremely supportive. They want to get out there and showcase their own abilities. We know the abilities of a lot of them. We've picked a strong side, but guys that haven't been picked - and I'll just use him as an example because I've seen him every week - Girvan Dempsey has been outstanding this season and he's not in the 22 at the moment. We're looking at the side the way it is, and we've picked a strong one. But the boys know there are other people in the squad breathing down their neck. We've got to perform."
