Former All Black captain Graham Mourie (2ndR) chats with the cast of the play 'Stand Alone' during the captains run at Thomond Park in Limerick, Ireland. The play tells the story of Munster's famous win over the All Blacks on the afternoon of October 31, 1978. © Getty Images

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Munster's rugby immortals will be pride of place at the rebuilt Thomond Park Stadium tomorrow night.

But it is a Garryowen third 15 prop's absence from the 30th anniversary of the historic defeat of the All Blacks that has struck a sombre note in Limerick this week. Shane Geoghegan is no longer a nondescript frontrower plugging away for Munster, one of the republic's best-known clubs.

His murder while walking home on November 8 shortly after watching Ireland beat Canada at a friend's place has cast a pall over what was envisaged as a joyous occasion -- an All Black side's first visit to the city since Graham Mourie's Grand Slam winners were sensationally upended 12-0 on October 31, 1978. Geoghegan, 28, became the latest innocent victim of a gang feud that has gripped Limerick for more than a decade when he was shot four times in what Irish police are convinced was a case of mistaken identity.

The Garryowen club, forever linked to rugby history when lending its name to the up-and-under, was intended to be one of the rallying points for festivities marking what remains the solitary triumph by an Irish team over one from New Zealand. Munster's legends that afternoon and four of their vanquished opponents were meant to convene at the club headquarters in Dooradoyle to reminisce about Seamus Dennison's crunching tackles and Tony Ward's dropped goals on that famous day.

Instead the reunion was moved as the clubhouse still resembles a shrine to Geoghegan. This, it was decided, was no time and place for revelry over a few scoops. Wreaths from his family still hang on the clubhouse wall, a poignant reminder of the gregarious captain and the pain associated with his loss.

Naturally, Geoghegan has not been remembered simply within the confines of his club. Thousands attended his funeral mass last week, messages of condolence have been recorded by the rugby and wider community.

A minute's silence was perfectly observed at Croke Park before the All Blacks beat Ireland 22-3 in Dublin last Saturday -- a two-minute silent memorial is planned before kick-off on Tuesday night, adding another emotional charge to a keenly anticipated rematch.

All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu, who switched on Limerick's Christmas lights today, also made special mention of Geoghegan's needless demise. Lomu dedicated the positioning of the city's Christmas tree on the banks of the Shannon river to "a fellow rugby player".

"The whole rugby community is mourning Shane," he said. While Geoghegan's senseless death has impacted on the city, the match between the All Blacks and reigning Heineken Cup champions has also lifted the spirits of a rugby-mad city inextricably bonded to violence since been christened "Stab City" in the 1980s.

The 26,000 capacity venue has long been sold out -- stand tickets normally priced up to $150 have been advertised on websites for 10 times their face value. The old Thomond Park had a capacity for 12,000 when Mourie's men ran into a red-jersied brick wall.

It was predominantly open terraces back then, a concrete retaining wall on the old west stand side is the only reminder from those amateur days. More than $80 million was spent rebuilding the ground -- the massive investment has seen the addition of the usual trappings of redevelopment.

Comfortable bucket seating, the merchandising store, even a $1m museum -- where a highlights package of Munster's finest 80 minutes is on continuous play. But Munster's rugby heads have been also careful not to diminish the ground's notoriously hostile atmosphere by catering only to the high end of town.

There is still standing room only at either end and in front on the stands. Mourie, the All Blacks captain that fateful afternoon, returned to the ground today and liked what he saw.

"The ends of the ground are still similar with the terraces and the trees poking up behind. The main stands are fantastic. I remember the old wooden stand over the other side and the old wall here is still there. I think what's important is the inside hasn't changed, it's the same ground."

All Blacks teammates that day Bryan Williams, Mark Donaldson and Gary Knight will also be present at a social occasion that has attracted Ireland's cultural and sporting elite to the grim weather-beaten city, for one night only.

The opening ceremony will be performed by the Taioseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen as Irish President Mary McAleese, U2 frontman Bono, Riverdance creator Michael Flatley and golfer Padraig Harrington congregate in the corporate boxes.

There they will watch the Irish air corps lower a silver casket containing the match ball to the pitch. It promises to be quite a show.

Shane Geoghegan had a ticket, if only he was able to use it.