F or 30 years, Irish tourism interests spent tens of thousands in a vain attempt to persuade international travellers to understand that The Troubles in the North, just 100 miles from Dublin, were of no consequence to safety. Understandably, foreigners found it difficult to comprehend that on a tiny island there could be such a major gulf in attitudes.

It is equally incomprehensible that in Irish rugby there could be two provinces separated by a similar distance delivering quite opposite performances. The IRFU in its wisdom has given equal funding to its three front-line provinces, yet Munster have performed not just above their fellow Irish teams but ahead of every team in Europe.

Each province has used different coaches in that period. Yet while Leinster went from the sublime in Toulouse to the ridiculous in almost every other season, the men in red delivered extraordinary consistency. Declan Kidney may be the proud coach of two Cup wins, but Alan Gaffney and now Tony McGahan also operated seamlessly .

Today will probably only confirm the gulf between the sides as Munster will see off a below-strength Ospreys and Leinster will struggle against a resurgent Harlequins. Sadly, the dream of a packed Croke Park for a repeat all-Irish semi-final is unlikely to be fulfilled.

Last week, Leinster, despite doing everything right in the physical exchanges, were blown away by a Munster team that treated them with contempt. Felipe Contepomi shouldered most of the blame for another nightmare against Munster but the back play, as it has been all season, was sub-standard. Apologists will point to the absence of Brian O'Driscoll and Luke Fitzgerald but every attacking move was cross-field and the backs were picked off with ease.

Things will be better this week with the demotion of Shane Horgan to the bench, although it must have been a close call against Isa Nacewa who continues to demonstrate minimal football skills other than the physical. Rob Kearney is restored to full-back but his defensive fragilities, long hinted at, were cruelly exposed in Limerick.

The Stoop will be a difficult venue today as the Harlequins side is young and full of verve, inspired by Nick Evans at fly-half. They earned their place in the quarter-finals with some magnificent displays of resolve against Stade Francais, coupled with some attacking brilliance against the Scarlets.

Captain Will Skinner also returns after missing the victory at the Rec last weekend with a stomach bug. He will once again form the formidable 'Quins backrow with Chris Robshaw and Nick Easter. If the middle five determines rugby games, then it will be a titanic struggle, aided and abetted by the two scrum-halves, Chris Whitaker and Danny Care. Home advantage and Care's physicality will tip the balance.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika has led a charmed life in charge and if the rumours are true, he is under no pressure from his bosses. If so, then it demonstrates that Leinster Rugby is terrified of making yet another poor choice from the world's thin coaching pool. It says something about the Irish attitude to forgive and forget when a world-class although flawed coach like Eddie O'Sullivan is left to waste his time in the USA rather than rehabilitate his career in Donnybrook.

Meanwhile, all is sweetness and light south of Portlaoise. Munster powered through the qualifying stages, while the Ospreys' two defeats in the Pool stage meant they failed to pick up any momentum in the competition and only qualified as best-runners-up in Pool Three behind Leicester Tigers.

The Ospreys have been hit by a spate of injuries. Lee Byrne's failed late fitness test on a ligament injury to the left foot means that Tommy Bowe moves to full-back. Wales international Gavin Henson is also missing, as are fellow internationals Jonathan Thomas, Duncan Jones and Scotland wing Nikki Walker.

Despite those losses, the Welsh side travel strong. The lineout battle will not just be for possession but for Lions places as Alun Wyn-Jones and Ian Gough take on Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan. At half-back also, the Ospreys will not bend the knee; James Hook and Mike Phillips are well capable, if the possession battle goes their way up front, of making life difficult for the home team. Happily for the heart conditions of the Red Army, Shane Williams will be marshalled by Doug Howlett.

The visitors to Thomond Park will have little to lose and could create an upset. That is an unlikely proposition because their opponents are a team steeled by competition; organised by a decade of great coaching; and above all driven by a need to excel.

An upset is less likely at The Stoop because Leinster simply do not have a record of consistency to fall back on when the going gets tough.

All of Ireland wants the dream game in Croke Park. It would be a useful antidote to the dreary future that faces us all. Sadly, like an economy recovery, it will remain a fantasy.

- George Hook