The upcoming rugby season is start of a new era for all of the provinces.
Munster and Ulster are under new management with Anthony 'Axel' Foley and Les Kiss (the latter as Interim Director of Rugby), Connacht start the Pro 12 season with new faces like Mils Muliaina and Leinster move on without key pillars like Leo Cullen and Off The Ball's new guest presenter Brian O'Driscoll.
And of course there is the small matter of a Rugby World Cup at the end of this cycle.
With the season kicking off on Friday, former Ireland internationals Alan Quinlan and Paul Wallace joined us for the return of Wednesday Night Rugby.
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The lads picked out Connacht as the outstanding movers and shakers of the summer break.
"When you look at the budget Connacht operate under, I think they've been very slick with who they've managed to get in. Connacht have a lot of young talent there and getting the talent and winning experience of someone like Mils Muliaina is a huge thing - and McCartan and Bundee Aki. That (Aki) was the one that surprised the other provinces," said Wallace who believes Connacht need consistency up front and if that can be harnessed, fifth and a Heineken Cup spot should be the target.
Robbie Henshaw, Mils Muliaina and Fionn Carr ©INPHO/James Crombie
Quinlan said he was excited by the likes of Robbie Henshaw and Kieran Marmion as well as newcomers like Aki.
While there is an air of excitement around Connacht, Munster's was punctured slightly with the revelation that a critical and confidential document was accidentally distributed to the playing staff.
Wallace thinks Munster could actually turn the controversy into a positive.
"This could be the little shot in the arm to get Munster back to the intensity and pragmatism that Munster rugby always brings. The last few years that's been missing," said the ex-Leinster and Saracens player, who expects Munster to go back to their traditional game with an added bit of "spark".
Former Munster man Quinlan described it as "unfortunate" although he feels the province will try to take positives out of it and that everyone will look to draw a line under it.
Coach Anthony Foley with Paul O'Connell ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Quinlan is excited by additions like Robin Copeland, but feels it is vital that Munster tune up the 10, 12 and 13 channel if they wish to take themselves up a gear.
He also looked at the potential development of JJ Hanrahan at fly-half, while Wallace highlighted the importance of Munster going back to the basics of a "momentum game and territory" but that Hanrahan can add the decision-making aspect.
Meanwhile, Wallace has Leinster down as favourites to retain their Pro 12 crown, although he admits that they have "issues to address" particularly in the physical stakes following last season's Heineken Cup defeat to Toulon.
Sean O'Brien ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
But he is excited by Gordon D'Arcy and Iain Madigan as a potential centre partnership this season, while he believes it is vital that Sean O'Brien is fit for the big games unlike last season's injury ravaged campaign.
"Him and Healy are the big power players," he added.
While, Quinlan reckons Ulster have recruited well at a time of relative upheaval, he does have some concerns:
"It's a bit worrying that they have a few coaches gone in the last few years because there's a bit of player power. That concerns me a little bit," said Quinlan.
"We've heard about it with the coaches, and players piping up on their opinion of coaches and that's a dangerous scenario so it's a bit unstable."
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