In 1983-84, the legendary Willie John McBride had a disastrous spell of a season as a chief coach of Ireland.
McBride believed a lot in the experience and the team he selected for the five nations of that season was full of her.
Names such as Fergus Slatter, Moss Keane, Willie Duggan, Phil Orr and Ciaran Fitzgerald were highly respected in the world of rugby, but when the tournament began, everyone was in their 30 years.
In fact, only the second row Donal Lenihan was less than 30 years old in a front pack that was quickly called 'Dad Army'. Ireland lost the four games of the five nations to flee with the wooden spoon and after Scotland humiliated 32-9 at her final exit in Dublin, McBride left.
More than 40 years later, there are echoes from that era of the 'Dad Army' in the Ireland approach for the next Six Nations championship.
With Andy Farrell far in his sabbatical year of Leones, the interim chief coach Simon Easterby had the opportunity to put his own seal in the procedures, but he attached a lot to the script and his Six Nations team is very heavy in favor of the proven and reliable.
Simon Easterby (left) has a much more experienced, but aged squad, that Steve Borthwick
Easterby is taking the reins of Andy Farrell (right) while the latter prepares for the Lions tour
It means that when the 23rd of Ireland is announced for the confrontation with England at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, it could present up to 11 players over 30 years.
Bundee Aki's tastes (34 years, 61 CAPS), Jamison Gibson-Park (33 next month, 38 caps) and Peter O'Mahony (35, 110 CAPS) have been enormously influential international for an extended period but evidence of the evidence of Ireland's the disappointing autumn, losing to New Zealand, then scraping Argentina and Australia and Fiji's blows, suggests that their best days can be behind them.
And, although the injuries have been a factor, the fact that Ireland still depends on the Nous Healy (37, 134 CAPS) and Conor Murray (35, 121 tapas) for the bank service is not a great reflection in its road processes.
It adheres to the established policy of interpreting what is facing you, instead of building for the future, but there is a growing concern in this approach given the persistent failure of Ireland in the world's glasses and if this campaign of the six nations You must leave the track, the heat in them will increase.
When this problem is raised, Ireland's management hastened to point out the progressive selections of young people such as the Jamie Osborne Public Services Service (23), Hooker Gus McCarthy (21), half of flying Sam Same Prendergast (21) and the second Joe McCarthy (23) before them.
All have looked like the part when they have been given the opportunity on the international stage and are ready to form the backbone of Ireland's attempt to win their first World Cup knockout game in two years.
However, fear is that a large part of the players in this team will not reach Australia 2027 and that there will be enough time to bring the next wave.
The loyalty to the players who obtained a victory in the series in New Zealand in 2022 and a Grand Slam of the six nations the following year is understandable, but there is a danger that the point of a good reason can pass.
Conor Murray (left) and cyan healy (right) are still being used from the bank in the late 30s
Ireland had a disappointing autumn, with its defeat of the All Blacks that mark a hammer blow
Last November, especially in the 23-13 defeat of the All Blacks, there were defined indications that Ireland needed a renewal, both in style and personnel.
Meanwhile, England's renewal seems to be well in progress and the team announced by Steve Borthwick yesterday was remarkably rich in young people and vigor.
The fact that England has moved as unconditional such as Dan Cole, Elliot Daly and Danny Care is an instructive and this seems like a team prepared for a rapid and expansive style that could expose the aging legs of Ireland.
There are only three English players over 30 years in Saturday's team, but Henry Slade (31), Luke Cowan-Dickie (31) and the esteemed captain Maro Iitoje (30) have the right age profile to make the next World Cup .
You can't say the same of its opponents, but Ireland is not looking beyond Saturday, and they trust that their additional experience will be too much for its callow visitors.
It can work that way. Ireland has a formidable history in Aviva, where they have not lost a game of the six nations since they went down 13-15 to France in 2021, when Farrell was still finding their way at superior work.
England has won only once in its last six trips there, that unique victory is its 2019 bombing (also the opening day) that caught next to Conor O'Shea by surprise.
In addition, although part of the veteran Ireland nucleus may not have been in its peak this season, others such as Tadhg Beirne (33) and Josh van Der Flier (31) are possibly in the form of their races. After all, this is the No 2 team classification, five places ahead of England, which had a worrying fall.
England has a much younger and more vibrant team than Ireland, led by the new Captain Maro Iteje
Aviva remains a fortress for Ireland, which are undefeated in the six nations since 2021
Easterby is ready to rigidly adhere to Farrell's formula and creates a fascinating backdrop for an intriguing clash of cultures.
If the Youth Hall of England wins the day, could force Ireland to a policy change that feels very behind.