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MAYBE the easiest sell in Irish sport is England's biennial visit to Dublin in the Six Nations.
The unique visceral dimension of this fixture guarantees a sell-out, irrespective of championship implications for either team. Maybe it reflects some kind of native immaturity, but beating the 'old enemy' still registers as something profoundly redemptive in the Irish psyche.
The greatest expression of that was, undoubtedly, in 2007 when England were devoured 43-13 on an extraordinarily emotional evening at Croke Park.
The following day, President Mary McAleese rang Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan to congratulate the team. It was as if more than a game of rugby had been won.
Six years on, rugby is back on the south-side in a gleaming, silver spaceship of a stadium. The new Lansdowne is undoubtedly beautiful. But it houses roughly 31,000 fewer people than GAA headquarters.
So, as the teams run out tomorrow, think of a packed Thomond Park with another 5,000 supporters locked outside. And think of that many people deprived access to tickets for Ireland v England. Why?
Because the gates to the Big House are closed again and IRFU contractual obligations clearly demand they play on their own patch now.
But with stand tickets priced at €90 tomorrow, it's worth noting that potential ticket sales in excess of €2m are being sacrificed.
In these straitened times, it seems doubtful the GAA would chase prohibitive rent, if requested to reprise an old arrangement.
For this specific game, the new stadium is too small. And, frankly, it will always be.
