Every international match in the Five Nations series is an appealing prospect and each encounter is played out before capacity crowds. But from an Irish perspective there is no doubt at all that there is, and always has been, something special embraced in the annual joust against England.

England, probably for deeply-rooted political and social reasons, is looked upon as the traditional "old enemy". In rugby, too, traditionally, there has always been a great rivalry since the countries first met at Kennington Oval in the last century. But equally a great affinity existed through the years between Ireland and England.

An Ireland-England confrontation represents the second oldest pairing in international rugby, predated only by Scotland versus England.

It would be true to say, however, that relations between the Irish Rugby Football Union, and indeed the other home unions, and their English counterparts have undergone considerable strain in recent times for reasons away from the field of sporting competition. They have been strained by decisions taken at administrative level at Twickenham. Television contracts, European Cup involvement to mention just two contentious issues that have proved divisive.

But all such matters will be set aside tomorrow when the countries meet at Lansdowne Road. This will be about supremacy on the rugby field, and what a heady prospect it represents. From an Irish viewpoint no Five Nations match carries more appeal than the that against England. When the encounter is scheduled for Lansdowne Road, it adds considerably to the appeal.

Through the years the countries have fought out some memorable matches. One that remains vividly in the mind was the encounter at Lansdowne Road in 1993. The background to that match is very similar to the position that now obtains.

Six years ago, Ireland had ended a long losing sequence by beating Wales in Cardiff. Then, as now, England came to Dublin the warmest of favourites to do a demolition job on Ireland.

England had captured the Grand Slam in the two previous seasons; Ireland had not won a match until Cardiff. Ireland had lost to England every time in the previous five years.

Now, one has to go back to another blessed memory, the famous win at Twickenham, 13-12, the next year for Ireland's last win over England. So another five-year gap since the last Ireland win over England.

Two of the men who helped fashion those back-to-back victories over England in 1993 and 1994 will be in Ireland's starting line-up tomorrow: loose head prop Peter Clohessy and team captain second row Paddy Johns. Johns actually played at number eight in 1994.

Two of the Ireland replacements also shared in those wins, Eric Elwood and Mick Galwey, and both played major parts in those two victories. Galwey scored a try in 1993, Elwood kicked two penalty goals and dropped two goals that season. He kicked two penalty goals and a conversion the following year at Twickenham. England failed to score a try in either match.

There is another tangible link with the Ireland teams of 1993 and 1994. The current Ireland assistant coach Philip Danaher played in both matches. England, too, have only two survivors from the 1993 match. They are centre Jeremy Guscott and prop forward Jason Leonard.

Five of the England team that lost to Ireland at Twickenham in 1994 will, however, be in the England starting line-up today. Only one plays in the back line, scrum half Kyran Bracken, the Irishman in the English colours. He had a torrid time that afternoon in Twickenham. Four of the England forwards played in 1994: Jason Leonard, Martin Johnson, Tim Rodber and Neil Back. Rodber, now in the second row, played on the blind side flank.

There is one difference in the background to the match tomorrow compared with 1993. That year, Ireland had lost to Scotland before beating Wales and then England, so all hopes of a Triple Crown had gone. This time those hopes are still alive and that gives Ireland an added incentive, though that is scarcely necessary to hone the competitive instincts to the finest edge.

So while only two of the Ireland team know what it is to beat England in a Five Nations Championship match, there are many on the Ireland side who have played on winning Ireland teams against England at schools and under-21 levels. The value of matches in those spheres of international activity to Ireland cannot be overstated. They are of critical importance in the progression and development of players.

That is illustrated by the fact that the vast majority of the 22 players in the Ireland panel this afternoon have played for Ireland in the underage spheres and some have helped Ireland win Triple Crowns at schools and under-21 levels.

It is an interesting exercise to go through the Ireland 22 named for the match today and see how many of the players have represented Ireland at underage level. Conor O'Shea (under-21); Justin Bishop (under-21); Rob Henderson (under-21); Girvan Dempsey (under-21); David Humphreys (schools and under-21), Conor McGuinness (schools and under-21); Keith Wood (under-21); Paul Wallace (schools and under-21); Paddy Johns (schools and under-21); Jeremy Davidson (schools and under-21); Victor Costello (schools and under-21). In the replacements: Ciaran Scally (schools and still eligible for under-21); Eric Elwood (under-21); Eric Miller (schools and under-21). Jonathan Bell, an original selection for the match but forced to withdraw because of injury, is another who played for Ireland at both schools and under-21 level.

Ireland first met England at under-21 level in Moseley on October 29th, 1990, and won 22-16. Conor O'Shea played in that match. In all, the countries have met eight times and Ireland have won six times, including the last four in a row. Ireland won the Triple Crown at this level in 1996 and again last season. Eric Miller and Justin Bishop were members of the Triple Crown winning team of 1996.

Incidentally, the England under-21 team has never won a match in Ireland. The Ireland schools team has won the Triple Crown three times in the 1990s, most recently three years ago. That ratio of success and the number of players progressing through the underage system is concrete proof of its true value to the game in this country.

It is also extremely encouraging, and money spent in these vital areas is indeed money well spent. The composition of the Ireland team tomorrow underlines the point.