Not if you are Stuart Olding.
You are playing at fullback, for only the second time in your senior career, on what is one of the wet and windiest nights of the year. Time to get nervous?
Not if you are Stuart Olding.
The 21-year old looked hugely assured in the 15 jersey and scored two excellent tries in the 23 – 6 win over the Welsh region.
“When I knew I would be playing I fullback I was pleased,” says Stuart. “I was just happy to be playing some rugby as I haven’t played too much this season,”
“I enjoyed the game. I was in the house before the match and it was bucketing down. When the game started I thought we played those conditions well and we played with huge tempo in the first half. We good created some chances but in the second we just weren’t clinical enough.”
Having played at inside centre and outhalf, Olding is just happy to be wearing the white jersey:
He says: “I played a bit at fullback in school and a bit for the under 20s. I played there in one game last year. I have played a lot of positions across the backline but I am comfortable playing in them and I enjoy playing in them.”
Stuart’s tries were different in nature but similar in the skill level needed to finish them. The first was a great break, followed by excellent footwork, then a strong hand-off to see him to the line. The second came from an excellent pass from Stuart McCloskey which required Olding to dive for the line – the TMO awarded the try after reviewing the footage:
“I could have made it easier for him,” jokes Stuart. “Just by reaching out my right hand. That’s the first thing that I said when I got up. However, I thought we had created the chance very well and I was just lucky to be on the end of it.”
Stuart has returned to the Ireland set up where he along with the rest of the international squad will continue their preparations for the Guinness Series, starting with South Africa this weekend:
“It’s a big honour to be involved in the squad. I am feeling my ways into things getting to know plays in that environment. It’s international rugby and everything is very precise and you need to know your stuff.”
If his provincial form is anything to go by he will thrive in that environment too.