Eddie O'Sullivan has welcomed his stint as Barbarians coach as an early chance to banish memories of Ireland's calamitous World Cup. O'Sullivan is preparing the Barbarians for Saturday's clash with South Africa at Twickenham - his first coaching assignment since the tournament in France.
Ireland, who entered the World Cup with semi-final aspirations, flopped abysmally by crashing out at the group stage - nine points adrift of Pool D leaders Argentina.
The Irish Rugby Football Union's inquest into the debacle is nearing its conclusion and O'Sullivan admits it has been a painful process.
But the 49-year-old insists the Barbarians job has begun the healing process. "For Ireland the World Cup was hugely disappointing. We failed to produce anything that vaguely resembled our form during the season," he said.
"Since then it has been a tough time trawling through everything that happened. That process has nearly come to an end and the Barbarians offers me an opportunity to get back on the horse.
"It feels good to be back on the horse. You always ask hard questions and the hardest questions you ask are of yourself."
O'Sullivan admits Ireland will be looking to redeem themselves with a strong Six Nations Championship. "One thing with Ireland is you can't afford to be complacent," he said. "I don't see there being a huge number of changes in the personnel. We certainly have something to prove in the Six Nations."
O'Sullivan is enjoying the different challenges presented by coaching the Barbarians. "Coaching the Barbarians . . . gives me the opportunity to work with some hugely talented people," he said. "It's very different to coaching Six Nations or international level. You just have to act as a conduit between these players - a kind of facilitator. In many ways with the Barbarians less is more."
The Barbarians side to face the world champions South Africa includes some of the most luminous talents on the planet. But it was the selection of three seasoned England internationals that raised eyebrows as the world's most famous invitational rugby side set out their stall for the fixture.
The Springboks, for whom this is the last game under their departing coach, Jake White, will be up against new Barbarians in Jason Robinson and Ben Cohen in a side that is captained by Mark Regan. Appropriately for a famously peripatetic club, Robinson and Cohen, the wings in England's own World Cup-winning team four years ago, are also homeless.
Robinson retired from club rugby at the end of last season and was not expected to play again after he dislocated a shoulder in the World Cup final last month.
Cohen, named as a replacement, was released by Northampton last summer after refusing to train with the Saints after a row over the club captaincy.
The current England hooker, Regan, meanwhile, is defying his club by playing. Bristol had refused to release the 35-year-old despite giving him the weekend off rather than play him in Sunday's EDF Cup game against a former club Leeds, which is a dead-rubber.
Regan, who risks a fine for playing rather than resting before the next round of European Cup fixtures, would only make a brief statement yesterday after training at Blackheath.
"It is a massive honour for me to lead the Barbarians and I felt I wanted to play in a star-studded side," he said.
"My children are the mascots and my elder daughter celebrates her ninth birthday this weekend and I wanted to make this a family weekend."
So Regan plays while his England frontrow colleague Andrew Sheridan has dropped out - a South African J D Moller replaces him in the squad - to play a more meaningful EDF Cup game for his club Sale at Leicester tomorrow night.
Joe Rokocoko, the New Zealand wing, meanwhile, will be wearing the black and red socks of Blackheath on Saturday.
Rockocoko has been made an honorary member of the London club, having forgotten to pack any socks of his own before crossing the globe.
BARBARIANS (team to face South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday December 1st, 15.00):J Robinson (England), J Rokocoko (Blues and New Zealand), C Smith (Hurricanes and New Zealand), M Nonu (Hurricanes and New Zealand), I Neivua (Warriors and Fiji), M Giteau (Western Force and Australia), J Marshall (Ospreys and New Zealand), F Pucciarello (Munster and Italy), M Regan (captain, Bristol and England), S Ma'afu (Brumbies), B Cockbain (Wales), J Harrison (Ulster and Australia), R Elsom (Waratahs and Australia), M Williams (Cardiff and Wales), J Collins (Hurricanes and New Zealand).
Replacements:S Brits (Stormers), J D Moller (Stormers), T Flavell (Blues and New Zealand), M Owen (Dragons and Wales), T Shanklin (Cardiff and Wales), P Grant (Stormers), B Cohen (England).
