Stuart McCloskey feared he broke his arm against South Africa - but just days later is ready to show why he should be in the Ireland centre conversation ahead of the 2023 Six Nations.
McCloskey was named on the bench to face the Springboks last Saturday, then was promoted to the line-up alongside Garry Ringrose when Robbie Henshaw suffered a hamstring issue on the eve of the Autumn series opener.
The big Ulsterman made a superb start only to have to make way before the half hour mark, his arm in a makeshift sling. Nevertheless he was swiftly given the OK to resume training and will play against Fiji this weekend.
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"Looking back on it I was pleased with how the 27-odd minutes went," said McCloskey. "I can take solace in that.
"I've been here so often, it's not like it's my first time in camp. I'm 30 years of age and have played a lot of rugby so I'm not as nervous any more.
"It's just about going out and showing what I can do, not letting the moment get over you and play your own game.
"It's just rugby. You're unlucky at times, I was very disappointed at the time, but things have resolved themselves pretty well. Hopefully I'm looking alright for this week.
"I’d love to keep on playing on. I know it’s only provincially, but over the years I think I’ve done very well, bounced from game to game, played a lot of rugby.
"It’s always seemed to work for me when I’ve played three or four games in a row, not just in and out one game here and there."
McCloskey was devastated coming off the pitch as he felt it was his big chance to put his hand up against one of the world's best sides.
"It was a nerve - the ulnar nerve if we're being specific - I hit that and my arm just went completely dead," he explained. "My forearm was in a lot of pain but it cleared up pretty well. My hand is still getting full function back, but it's getting there.
"It'd be the first time I've ever played two consecutive weeks for Ireland in a row (if he plays). "Something I've always done well at provincial level is play week in and week out, and get better as I go on. Hopefully that's the case here.
"When you think you've broken your arm, you're thinking 12 weeks or more, so it's just a relief that I can get back playing again. I didn't think it would come back so quickly but it has resolved itself pretty well."
Ireland boss Andy Farrell has spoken of how unlucky McCloskey has been in the past, that he has been the one to miss out on matchday squads due to the quality at Ireland's disposal at centre with Ringrose, Henshaw, Bundee Aki - who will return from suspension next week - while there's another Ulsterman, James Hume, now on the rise.
"I don't think there's as much of a gap, it's that the guys are doing so well," McCloskey argued.
"For me, it was always a thing that I wanted to get back here. I could have left (camp) years ago and not worried about playing for Ireland, but I always wanted to get back here and not prove to Andy, but prove to others, prove to everybody that I can do it at this level.
"It’s more a personal thing than proving to anybody else.
"Listen, I’d love to be in the reckoning for the World Cup but there’s a long time between now and then. I just want to play a few more games in the next year leading up to the World Cup, and to play 80 minutes would be great.
"When Bundee plays, he's been very good. When Robbie's played 12 he's been very good. Why would you change a winning team? That's the way I look at it.
"I've played at the same sort of level as them, club-wise, for a long time. It's just waiting for your opportunity to get in there and play for Ireland.
"If I was Andy, why would I change the team unless I was leaps and bounds ahead of those guys? Those two are probably two of the best 12s in the world for the best part of five or six years.
"I don't think I was lots better than them, but I think it was quite an even balance between all three of us.
"I think it’s a very competitive environment without being ratty and having a go at each other in terms of doing things that wouldn’t help the team. I think that’s what Andy’s built anyway.
"I can only speak for myself in terms of when the guys are going out there, I always wanted to prepare them well when I wasn’t playing and I felt the same from Bundee in camp this week, and Robbie as well, helping me out.
"Everyone is competitive and wants to play but nobody wants to do each other in and not help each other."
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