September Tests should be scheduled only in pressing circumstances such as catching up after foot and mouth or after bombing out of the World Cup before the quarter-finals when the script ran all the way to a place in the last four.
It was that deviation from the plan back in 1999 that landed Ireland in their current predicament - playing Russia and Georgia on successive Saturdays in order to sit at the top table in Australia next year.
These are called qualifiers but even the last-placed team of this little group has another shot at going to the World Cup. At least Ireland will top the trio by 5pm today and that will slot them into Pool A alongside Australia, Argentina, the fourth-ranked European qualifier and either Namibia or Tunisia, from the African zone.
All that remains is to dispense with Georgia. This will not be the first time they have met for, when qualifying was not an embarrassing route, Ireland put 70 points on the former Soviet state. In their defence, however, the Georgians did roll out the cannon fodder for Ireland that day, as they tried to save their best for the match against Romania.
Naturally Ireland's coach Eddie O'Sullivan is anxious to dispel expectations of target practice. "They are a much improved rugby nation since then," he said. "You can't go out against these teams and expect them to roll over. That doesn't happen any more at this level."
The Georgians simply want to play well and avoid injuries ahead of their real big day out - against the Russians - for a ticket direct to Australia rather than through the repechage.
Meanwhile the Irish are likely to face the Australia wing Ben Tune this autumn after he was last night given the all-clear to join the Wallabies on their tour to Argentina and Europe after being caught up in a doping saga.
Tune was given treatment last year which contained a banned substance after he suffered a knee injury playing for Queensland Reds. The mistake was quickly realised and Tune was rested for five matches to get the drug out of his system.
But neither Queensland nor the Australian Rugby Union reported the matter to the International Rugby Board. When the affair came to light the IRB launched an immediate investigation, resulting in its anti-doping advisory committee yesterday concluding that Tune should not face a disciplinary panel.
Ireland: G Dempsey; J Kelly, B O'Driscoll, K Maggs, D Hickie; R O'Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, S Byrne, J Hayes, G Longwell, M O'Kelly, S Easterby, A Foley (capt), K Gleeson.
Georgia: B Khamashuridze; M Urjukashvili, T Zibizadze, K Alania, B Khekhelashvili; P Jimsheladze, I Abusseridze; G Shvelidze, A Guiorgadze, L Tsabadze, V Nadiradze, V Didebulidze (capt), D Bolghashvili, I Zedguinidze, G Chkhaidze.
Referee: N Williams (Wales).
