It's 33 months since Tadgh McElroy chose Saracens over the Ireland scene... he's now fighting for a way back into the pro ranks while Ronan Kelleher is living the dream.
The Ulster fly-half is one of five uncapped players in Andy Farrell’s squad, alongside provincial team-mate Tom O’Toole and Leinster’s Max Deegan, Caelan Doris and Ronan Kelleher.
Ireland centre Garry Ringrose will make his first start for Leinster since sustaining a jaw injury in the Heineken Champions Cup in December.
By the time they face the British and Irish Lions in July, that drought will be stretched to 20 months, and even then it's increasingly unlikely that the tour won't go ahead due to COVID-19.
Upset with what he saw in the Nations Cup struggle versus Georgia, Andy Farrell has changed six of his Ireland XV to face Scotland.
Andy Farrell and his players tried to focus on the positives after the game, but there was much to concern the Ireland head coach.
Ireland ran into an Autumn Nations Cup white wall against England in London, losing 18-7 after a display where their attack was toothless.