It's a sensible option that on such an occasion this English team realises the importance of the venue and what it means to everyone in Ireland. We are not making a big issue out of it, after all it is just another Ireland-England rugby international, but it's not just another pitch. Brian is trying to get everyone to embrace that idea by doing this.

How much the players know already, I'm not sure, I'll be able to answer that better once I have a chat with them. I'm sure some of them will be aware. After all, everyone has a huge knowledge of their own domestic history and this is a part of the history of the two countries. I certainly want all of them to understand just what a gesture it is by the GAA in opening this place to rugby. And I want them to know that the GAA is not just some organisation that banned other sports. If that's what some of them think, then they have no idea and I will tell them otherwise.

Besides that, I'll be dealing with the bare bones. I'm not a history teacher and they certainly don't want a lecture at the end of a long and gruelling day of preparation for a very tough match. But I will briefly tell the history, what happened at the venue, what the GAA means to Irish people. I'll tell them it's an integral part of Irish society - sport, history and culture. That it's an amateur organisation and that's something amazing given the crowds, commitment and infrastructure. I'm sure they'll have questions too and I'll answer them but that will be it. Short and sweet.

I'm aware of some people's reservations but whether a gesture is made before the game, that's not up to the players. That's up to the IRFU, the RFU, the GAA, all those people. But to me every time I've ever been there, it's a tribute to Bloody Sunday anyway. I've sat a lot in the Hogan Stand when I was growing up and that's remembering what happened.

I grew up in a GAA household while my father was playing on that Kerry team of the 50s but still, the most important thing is to put everything into perspective come Saturday. We just want the players to go out, have the proper respect, play a great game of rugby in front of a great crowd on a tremendous occasion and that's all that matters. The nice thing is that the guys want to know and learn so they are not going out on the pitch ignorant and that in itself says a lot about this bunch and Brian. They are going to respect the honour of that pitch. People can't ask more.

Whether others respect it, well, anything can happen.

I've heard complaints about God Save The Queen and this sort of thing and to me that's staring into the past needlessly. It is England against Ireland which is played every year, and each time, be it Lansdowne Road or in Twickenham, it's their national anthem, it's played and Ireland need to respect that as well. I think a small minority would think otherwise and disagree with my sentiments but I wouldn't give it a moment's thought. It is being built up as being one of the biggest moments ever in Irish sport and it will be just that. It will be incredible and I hope people can savour it and enjoy it and accept it. The last game in Croke Park was pretty special, but with this one being at 5.30 in the evening everyone will have a few more drinks in them and I hope it is a game everyone can be proud of.

I think it will, and there will be 83,499 who will respect the occasion. If there's one or two people who decide not to, they are not respectful of the views of anyone and should be ignored. I hope people realise it's not a time for political statements. My father was at the Tyrone-Dublin game and made a point that stuck with me and is relevant to all of this. He said when the lights came on it was amazing. He said a light was switched on that day and it was his hope it will shine forever and a day.

That was symbolic and let's hope that was the case. Times are moving on and changing and we can all celebrate a great Irish rugby team together. That will be the biggest tribute of all to Michael Hogan and the GAA's history.

Conor O'Shea is a former Irish rugby international and is currently director of the English RFU academy