Even when the rivalry appeared to be at a low ebb and interest levels fell far below what we’re seeing this week, James Lowe was always able to get up for a Munster game.
He may have arrived late to the party but there were times when the Kiwi appeared to bring an energy from another era to these games; bustling into rows and bringing an edge that enlivened a relationship that appeared to be heading towards dormancy.
You couldn’t say that about this fixture now as Croke Park prepares to hoist the ‘sold-out’ signs.
Jack Crowley’s winning drop-goal in the 2023 URC semi-final gave the old rivalry the kiss of life and while many of the players still get on like a house on fire when they’re together in Andy Farrell’s Ireland camp, there’s plenty of edge when they play each other now.
“It’s something that I seriously look forward to,” Lowe said.
“And there’s a mutual hatred between the boys. As much as I love to see them succeed and I play with a lot of them, you know, when it comes to it, if [Craig] Casey is in front of me, I don’t care, like if Calvin [Nash] is in front of me, don’t care.
“And I’m sure they’re saying the exact same thing on the other side.
“But at the end of the day, we will shake hands and hopefully see each other in November.
“It’s just a red and a blue jumper and when it comes to playing against each other, we don’t like each other.
“There was ‘Sexto’ [Johnny Sexton] and ‘ROG’ [Ronan O’Gara], they didn’t like each other, though that was quite funny. They were in different jumpers. So look, we’re looking forward to it, that’s for sure.”
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Lowe said something similar in a broadcast interview and copped a predictable response from those who take life too seriously.
And he was less willing to get himself embroiled in another controversy when we wondered what he made of the feud between Sexton and Rieko Ioane.
“I didn’t actually really see it but yeah, that’s quite funny isn’t it? It is hard to comment,” he said, restraining himself.
We try another way, wondering how much sledging goes on at the top end of the game.
“Ah, I dunno. There’s good people and bad people in all areas of the work life, isn’t there?” he said.
“So there’s always going to be a little bit of… and rugby, obviously, it’s a heated, physical exchange, and words can be said. But what happens on the field normally stays on the field, nothing really boils over into the car park like the old days.
“Yeah, it’s water under the bridge a lot of the time, I’m too hard to get involved in it now, I just stir the pot from a distance.”
Lowe’s main focus is getting back on the pitch and doing damage to Munster this weekend, and he has an eye on what’s coming.
“There’s a few exciting things coming this year and to start off round four in the URC with Munster at Croke Park is obviously the first one to be thinking about,” he said.
“We will jump at the opportunity for this weekend.”