The loosehead prop was on media duties this week ahead of Ulster’s Challenge Cup Quarter-Final against Northampton on Saturday evening (kick-off 8pm).
This is a big week and there’s potentially a trophy on the line in the next few weeks. How often do you talk about it and is there an extra bit of pressure?
We don’t really talk about it during big weeks like this. It’s obviously a goal in the squad to consistently compete for Championships. We know that’s there and it’s always in our minds, but we know it’s one game at a time and we won’t get ahead of ourselves. Northampton are a very good team and the competition is stacked. You can’t afford to be thinking like that and you have to respect the opposition you’re coming up against.
There must be a lot of pressure on the club to invest a huge amount of effort over the coming weeks on a competition you’re capable of winning?
It’s definitely a competition we want to win. We’re very ambitious as a group so it’s about getting out there and backing that up. It’s all well and good just saying that, but we need to perform as well and that starts at the weekend with Northampton.
Given how the game against Harlequins went, how much can you take from that game?
There’s a lot we can take from it. We can take great confidence from our attack. It wasn’t just a case that Quins didn’t show up; I think we performed really well in certain aspects. Taking that confidence into the game this weekend is going to be huge. We know as forwards that Northampton have a huge pack so having the result from last weekend is nice and we can put it up to Northampton on Saturday. We take as much to learn from the [Quins] game as we would out of a loss; just because we’ve gone well doesn’t mean there aren’t lots of areas to improve. We know what we need to get better at.
Can you talk a little about your own game this year and how you’re developing at Ulster?
It’s been a good year for me. Getting my cap was a wonderful achievement and it’s something I’ve wanted for so long. On the back of that, my performances haven’t been where I’d expect them to be. I set high standards of myself and I’m probably not hitting where I want to be at the minute. It’s been a good year but I want more of that and need to be playing to a level that’s going to get me back there.
In terms of the scrum, how helpful is Dan McFarland with his bank of knowledge having been there and done it himself as a former front-rower?
It’s brilliant; he has so much knowledge there and has been working at it for years. I’ve learned so much. We watche video analysis together and talk about little things we can improve that can make a big difference. We have so many experienced guys in the squad too who have been through it. You talk to them and it’s kind of like solving a puzzle.
Do you find much of a difference in the scrummaging between English packs and PRO14 ones?
Not really. I know there’s a stereotype of [English teams] having a big pack and being proud of their set piece. There’s a subconscious that’s there but I don’t think there’s a whole lot different.
You made the Guinness PRO14 Dream Team, a nice acknowledgement?
Yeah, definitely a nice acknowledgement. It wasn’t something I saw coming but it was nice to get. Ultimately, it’s about performing week in, week out and I’m more focused on that.
Roddy Grant talked this week about the evolution of the maul – how influential has he been in how much of a weapon that has become?
He has been huge there. He has been driving standards - be it in training, footage or team meetings. He’s brought such clarity around what we want and where we want to be as a pack. Having that message has been huge and the way he drives it as well. It gets pretty heated at times in training amongst us because the standards are so high. That’s what you expect, you have to deliver. It’s been great for the group.
How much of a source of pride is it to come from a less traditional rugby background to get to the stage you’re at – people must be really proud back home?
I got so many text messages around that time [getting my first cap]. Everyone was so happy for me and proud to see me get there. I am ambitious, and people know that about me. They took a lot of pride out of that, especially those who had involvement along the way. We don’t produce many in Templeogue so it’s nice to get that and hopefully that will spark something in the school and develop rugby there.
In terms of the scrum, how helpful is Dan McFarland with his bank of knowledge having been there and done it himself as a former front-rower?
It’s brilliant; he has so much knowledge there and has been working at it for years. I’ve learned so much. We watche video analysis together and talk about little things we can improve that can make a big difference. We have so many experienced guys in the squad too who have been through it. You talk to them and it’s kind of like solving a puzzle.
Do you find much of a difference in the scrummaging between English packs and PRO14 ones?
Not really. I know there’s a stereotype of [English teams] having a big pack and being proud of their set piece. There’s a subconscious that’s there but I don’t think there’s a whole lot different.
You made the Guinness PRO14 Dream Team, a nice acknowledgement?
Yeah, definitely a nice acknowledgement. It wasn’t something I saw coming but it was nice to get. Ultimately, it’s about performing week in, week out and I’m more focused on that.
Roddy Grant talked this week about the evolution of the maul – how influential has he been in how much of a weapon that has become?
He has been huge there. He has been driving standards - be it in training, footage or team meetings. He’s brought such clarity around what we want and where we want to be as a pack. Having that message has been huge and the way he drives it as well. It gets pretty heated at times in training amongst us because the standards are so high. That’s what you expect, you have to deliver. It’s been great for the group.
How much of a source of pride is it to come from a less traditional rugby background to get to the stage you’re at – people must be really proud back home?
I got so many text messages around that time [getting my first cap]. Everyone was so happy for me and proud to see me get there. I am ambitious, and people know that about me. They took a lot of pride out of that, especially those who had involvement along the way. We don’t produce many in Templeogue so it’s nice to get that and hopefully that will spark something in the school and develop rugby there.