Two-try winger Tommy Bowe spoke to journalists at the team hotel in Killiney on Monday, reflecting back on a good day at the office for both himself and his team-mates against Scotland.
Things are being to click again for Bowe, who only turned 24 last Friday. His rich vein of recent form has included tries for Ulster against Bourgoin and Gloucester (2) and a well-taken effort for Ireland ‘A’ against England Saxons.
The amiable winger continued his scoring run in his first appearance at Croke Park at the weekend, touching down twice in Ireland’s impressive dismissal of Scotland.
However, he was reminded on Monday that a certain Marcus Horan had deprived him of a hat-trick against the Scots.
“Myself and Marcus, we’re not really talking at the moment,” joked Bowe, who was right behind Horan when he gathered a Ronan O’Gara cross-field kick to score just 35 seconds into the second half.
“I was almost patting him on the back as he went over after catching the ball! I don’t think he had any intention of letting me go for it.
“Honestly, I was happy to let Marcus do it. He would have been shouted at for being a prop on the touchline if he hadn’t scored it.”
Although he was understandably delighted to get back on the scoresheet for Ireland, Bowe was also heartened by the defensive and attacking qualities shown by the team during Saturday’s win.
“For the amount of possession and the amount of times Scotland were on our try line, to concede only one try and be disappointed about it is a good thing.
“To show that when we did turn over the ball, we have the sort of strike players that can score or that can make breaks from all over the pitch is a positive thing.”
Bowe’s run-out on Saturday was his first in the Six Nations since he started Ireland’s 43-31 defeat to France in Paris in February 2006.
In between he played just twice for Eddie O’Sullivan’s side, against Argentina on last year’s summer tour and against Scotland in a World Cup warm-up match.
Missing out on selection for the World Cup squad was hard to take for the Monaghan man.
“It was a horrible time. After the French match (in 2006) I was able to reassess myself and I came back with Ulster.
“The following season I think I was playing quite well but then I hurt my hamstring and that put me out for a little while.
I came back and thought I was in good form before the Six Nations last year but I didn’t get the nod for that either.
“Before Argentina (last summer) I was thinking if I put two good performances in here, hopefully I should be going (to the World Cup). I talked to Eddie about it and stuff.
“Unfortunately I hurt myself in the first match and it didn’t play out the way I wanted it to. I was really disappointed. I didn’t know whether to be annoyed or frustrated,” he explained.
“What can you do? I went straight back to training with Ulster again. The boys were very good to me there.
“Mark (McCall) told me if I wanted to play, just to get back on the horse again basically and move on from there and use it as motivation. That’s the way I tried to turn it.”
Winning his place back in the Ireland team and ressurecting a Test career that started for him as a 20-year-old against the USA, Bowe can reflect on how much it means to him to be back.
“It’s made me appreciate it more. I don’t take it for granted and never have done. I know now the pressure that you’re under whenever you get this position.
“There’s always people biting at your heels and one bad performance could mean you lose your place, lose your place for two years (even).”
To listen to Bowe’s interview in full, please click here.
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