Cian Healy admits the first day of World Cup training was a massive shock to the system as Joe Schmidt laid down a serious marker from the off.
Healy had only got married the week before and, two days before the Ireland training camp commenced, he was at the Mumford and Sons and Wild Youth gig in Malahide.
But there was no chance for any of the players to ease their way back after their brief summer holiday break.
"That was a real shock to the system alright," grinned the veteran prop.
"That's possibly been the toughest session we've had. I don't know if it was the shock or the content, but it was certainly a marker to say we weren't coasting into anything.
"Everyone got through it alright, but it was an eye opener.
"It's been very tough, but I've been pretty happy with how it's been laid out."
That was the start of a long run-in to the finals in Japan - Ireland's first game is against Scotland on September 22 - and Healy and the players have appreciated the way preparations have changed up from week to week.
Last week they were in Limerick, the week before it was Galway and while it all began in Carton House, it's a sign of things to come that next week the players will have their first experience of training in Abbotstown.
"This one (World Cup camp) is probably the best one I've been a part of for looking after lads in the sense of giving people enough down-time and making sure everyone is really happy to go to training when we are training," said Healy.
"All going well, the people that are there to the end are going to be locked away for quite some time so to move around and get some lads the opportunity to stay close to home is pretty important."
Healy, 31, admits it was a massive help that, for the first time in his three World Cup camp involvements, he hit the ground running with his fitness.
The 2011 finals ended prematurely for all concerned but, four years later, he had only made it back in time from serious injury to make the squad.
"I was at a completely different fitness level," the Leinster star admitted.
"I was 127 kilos and not able to truck around like I can now. I mean I could get by, but you don't want to get by in any competition, you want to thrive and put it on show.
"We're all running around with a very high level of fitness at the moment.
It makes it more bearable but at the same time, the fitness drills are getting pretty dark because lads are able to dig in more and more and you have to drag more and more out of yourself, which is brilliant".
*Cian Healy was launching the arrival of Bull’s-Eye’s range of authentic American BBQ sauces and glazes to Ireland.
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