TOMORROW morning Ross O’Carroll-Kelly, the best
prospect never to play for Leinster, will rip out an extra 10 push-ups before sending his usual text message of
support to Jonny Sexton.
Had the ball bounced a different direction then Fr Fehilly’s favourite might well be lining up on the Aviva sod in a jersey with three stars on the chest instead of watching from the stands with Heineken stains down the front.
“I often think how different my life could have been if I’d had Peter Stringer giving me that kind of quick ball. Still a hero to me.” 
 No-one is immune from the hype that this particular fixture drums up.
Not even Castlerock’s Leinster Schools Senior Cup winning out-half from 1999 and champion carouser.
And that’s what makes this one so special.
It’s the two tribes thing, the fractious relationship that is a carryover from the amateur era and will, we fervently hope, never be diluted because it’s that discord that makes it special.
There’s real bitterness there.
There are chips on shoulders,
 personality clashes that are well established and others that are more clandestine.
And there’s the unofficial yet very real and relevant billing as Ireland’s unofficial trial.
Through the amateur era the Munster and Leinster players knew they had to impress in this particular fixture, that one wrong step could cost them their Irish spot.
And by the same rational a good showing could yield precious dividend.
There is an added element in the mix this year, Rob Penney.
The (still) new Munster coach has brought a new dimension to the party this time around, an expansive game that used to be the purview of Leinster and their All-Star backline.
But, similar to how the Leinster forwards shed their one-time moniker of ‘Ladyboy’ by forcing their game to evolve and adding a solid core to their undoubted skills out the line the Munster team are attempting their own evolution.
In this endeavour Penney has forwards and back intermingling with the ease of teenagers at a school disco.
At the moment it’s still more awkward fumbling than confident handling but there are signs of encouragement.
The off-loading, for example, has been a highlight and they will certainly ask questions of the Leinster defence.
But only if they gain returns from their set-piece, in particular their scrum which suffered against Ospreys.
They will be helped by the return of BJ Botha to tighthead and the overall game and team shape should also improve with the inclusion of their marquee players- either in the starting team or on the bench.
Leinster will also have their big guns back, with the exception of Rob Kearney. But with the likes of Jamie Heaslip and Brian O’Driscoll lacing up their boots this should be a ferociously exciting game.
In truth it’s hard to imagine anything other than a Leinster win because they are a more settled side and one more familiar with how they want to play the game.
But you never say never in this game, especially when it comes to this fixture and these protagonists.
And the respect Leinster have for Munster is undoubted.
They don’t particularly like each other but they do respect each other.