Tommy Bowe says he is both relieved and excited to be back in competitive action, after being named in Les Kiss' starting team for Saturday's Guinness PRO12 match against Zebre.
It will be the Ireland winger’s first appearance for the senior Ulster side this season following a knee injury sustained during the Rugby World Cup last year.
Bowe played the first 40 minutes of Ulster A’s 38-31 win over Munster last week, and he says that has given him confidence going into what is a crucial encounter:
“Obviously coming back from an injury like that is all about building confidence and reassuring yourself that the knee will be ok. Once I was able to take the ball into contact a few times, I felt good and fortunately I got a good bit of ball.”
Bowe was due to start on the bench, but Andrew Trimble’s illness meant the Lions star was elevated into the starting XV on Friday morning:
“It wasn’t quite the plan but I’m delighted to be out there and getting some game time. It’s been over five months since I last played a competitive match and this is a great one to come back for, with so much at stake.
“The sun is out so it will be a little bit different to training in the rain all week. It should prove to be a good game with some free-flowing rugby and hopefully we can get plenty of ball and finish off a few tries.”
The clash at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi is the first of three vital games in what is sure to be an entertaining run-in. And Bowe reckons the team is well-placed to make the top four:
“We’ve three big games to get ourselves into the play-offs and who knows what will happen from there. We have to work hard as they will all be tough matches, but we’re confident that we can produce three wins.”
The match will kick off at 4pm GMT and will be televised live on BBC2 NI.
It will be the Ireland winger’s first appearance for the senior Ulster side this season following a knee injury sustained during the Rugby World Cup last year.
Bowe played the first 40 minutes of Ulster A’s 38-31 win over Munster last week, and he says that has given him confidence going into what is a crucial encounter:
“Obviously coming back from an injury like that is all about building confidence and reassuring yourself that the knee will be ok. Once I was able to take the ball into contact a few times, I felt good and fortunately I got a good bit of ball.”
Bowe was due to start on the bench, but Andrew Trimble’s illness meant the Lions star was elevated into the starting XV on Friday morning:
“It wasn’t quite the plan but I’m delighted to be out there and getting some game time. It’s been over five months since I last played a competitive match and this is a great one to come back for, with so much at stake.
“The sun is out so it will be a little bit different to training in the rain all week. It should prove to be a good game with some free-flowing rugby and hopefully we can get plenty of ball and finish off a few tries.”
The clash at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi is the first of three vital games in what is sure to be an entertaining run-in. And Bowe reckons the team is well-placed to make the top four:
“We’ve three big games to get ourselves into the play-offs and who knows what will happen from there. We have to work hard as they will all be tough matches, but we’re confident that we can produce three wins.”
The match will kick off at 4pm GMT and will be televised live on BBC2 NI.