CONFIDENCE IS KEY for Ultan Dillane as he heads into his first Six Nations start.
The Connacht lock has had to wait his turn for a Championship starting berth in Ireland’s second row, getting the nod for this afternoon’s clash with Italy in Rome on his 13th cap.
His previous starts for Ireland came in November meetings with Canada and Fiji, but it was his impact off the bench last time out in Murrayfield which really seemed to convince Joe Schmidt he deserved to start ahead of both Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne.
“He came on in a pressure cooker,” Schmidt said of the Connacht lock’s role in Edinburgh, “we were only up by six points and I think there were three outstanding actions from him that were really pivotal for us.
Dillane poses for pics in Carton House on team announcement day. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO
“So we’re looking to him to provide a little bit more of that and that gave us real confidence.”
Dillane was released back to play for Connacht in their win over the Cheetahs last weekend, raising some fears that he was not in the head coach’s thoughts for Rome. But a man-of-the-match-winning performance helped maintain his run of fine form.
Hopping in and out of Ireland camp doesn’t feel like a disruption, Dillane insists. Having spread his dozen caps across the past three years, he has not had the benefit of a consistent run in the team and he has found himself left out of squads as second row competition intensified.
“I don’t think you can look forward or plan ahead,” Dillane says in relaxed tones before boarding the team bus in Carton House on Friday.
“You have to stay moment focused and take games as they come and earn your way that way… if your chance comes, it comes. And if it doesn’t, you keep working.”
Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
Rather than feel downtrodden or dispirited by Devin Toner and James Ryan’s move to the top of second row pecking order and the fierce competition in behind (not least from Connacht’s pack) Dillane is energised by the rising standards.