ULTAN DILLANE SAYS making his Ireland debut was the realisation of a long-term dream and hopes more Connacht players will get similar opportunities in future.

He may not even have a driving licence yet, but the 22-year-old lock made his first appearance for his country off the bench during Ireland’s recent 21-10 loss to England in the Six Nations, while he also featured for the final 26 minutes of their 58-15 defeat of Italy last weekend.

Dillane credits his province for helping him to develop as a player and reach his current level.

“We didn’t take it in at the time, but looking back, it’s down to Connacht and the work there and we are only hoping that more players get the chance. There are a few deserving,” he says.

It’s what a few of us have been dreaming about for years, it’s amazing how it’s all happening now. In terms of the team we were a bit nervous at first, us new lads, but the staff and the rest of the boys have been great at getting us comfortable with each other. In that respect, it has been getting easier each week.”

And have recent experiences changed him as a player in any way?

“I have learnt how much extra work needs to go on off the pitch, in terms of studying other teams and how much work we have to put in each week to be ready,” he explains. “Coming off the bench especially, we are studying our opposite man, trying to stay a step ahead and that is certainly important for us this weekend; constantly improving.

“It was a great experience to get that 15 (at Twickenham) and it flew on me the first time but I learned big time last weekend how much tougher (it is) to get a few extra minutes on the pitch.

Maybe Italy had us moving a bit more. I certainly realise the physical challenge that’s out there. Considering they were a team decimated with injury, this weekend is going to be a lot tougher in a must-win game for us to finish third. Coming off the bench is going to be really important for us.”

Commenting on the differences between Pro12 and test level, Dillane admits he was surprised by how comfortably he adapted and specifically, the amount of line breaks he made in the latter environment.

“To be honest, I don’t think I would make this many line breaks in Pro12 for Connacht, so I am not too sure what happened for me to be able to do it (in a test match).

“In that situation at Twickenham, I was a fresh body coming on against tired bodies. I had a lot of nerves behind me that I might have channeled well. I have to learn to bank the memories on how that came about to reproduce that.”

Ireland's Ultan Dillane tackled by Billy Vunipola of England. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Dillane has benefited from a number of injuries at both provincial and international level, and has consequently been fast-tracked to the top. And the Paris-born player acknowledges that he has encountered plenty of good fortune in his career thus far.

“There’s a lot of luck to making it in rugby because everyone faces grave injury at some point.

I was lucky a few seasons ago to get through a tough one. There might be a bit of a second-row crisis (with Ireland) this season and there was one in Connacht last season, which gave me my opportunity. They happen. I am very grateful.”

But for all the invaluable experience he has accrued of late, Dillane says there is still plenty of room for improvement in his game.

(It’s about) more repeated involvements, make yourself available (during matches) more often. For me, going back to Connacht, it’s about playing with a bit more confidence because I have been a bit quiet during the season. This should help. Hopefully, I can get a few better performances.

“Notes are a good one. I never see Josh (van der Flier) without his notebook. We all used laptops as well, regularly studying teams and how you can better yourself is what a lot of other boys do it.

“Studying opponents, studying Scotland’s set piece, individual players: how they carry, how they tackle, where they are effective and whether or not they are outlaws. Then we study our own training sessions. For me, (it’s about) my jump shape in the lineout, my shape in the scrum; how to be better and more consistent.”

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