The consistent presence of the likes of back row regulars Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan and the now-retired Peter O’Mahony led to Timoney’s opportunities being limited following his debut.
“When you’re getting past 30 in rugby, it’s not that you’re finished…[Stuart] McCloskey is the shining example of that not being the case, that your bed’s not totally made by the time you get to your later years in your career.
“It’s certainly easy to think at 28 or 29 you’re not really breaking through, it’s not really going anywhere or felt like that maybe the chances don’t come but luckily for me they have come and it’s a testament to the coaches and whole set-up of Irish rugby that the door’s not closed.”
Timoney adds that he believes the waiting has made him savour his more regular involvement in recent times, including a starting role in Friday’s win over Argentina.
“Before I’d have been desperate to get out there. It still is the be-all-and-end-all but you’re better equipped…you’ve had brief glimpses and have also felt that it might not be coming back so going into games just feeling grateful and happy to be there and excited for the opportunity is the best way to do it and not just overcome by the pressure of it all but just enjoy the moments.
“If you do that, you’ll play better so that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”
The challenge for Timoney now is to keep hold of the shirt, with a coveted place in the starting side for the much anticipated encounter with South Africa on 21 November likely to come down to a straight choice between him and former world player of the year Van der Flier.
First up though is a meeting with Fiji in Dublin on Saturday as the Irish target a fourth win from five games in the inaugural edition of the Nations Championship.
“There are good back rowers in my position, there’s very good back rowers. That’s always the plan – if you get a chance, you want to take it and give a good enough account of yourself that you get another chance.
“Fingers crossed I do this week but you never know. In the same way you wouldn’t have expected to start last week. I wouldn’t have expected to before so there’s never assumptions to be made, you never come in thinking ‘I’m a banker to play this week’.
“Fingers crossed I get another chance but it’s very much one day at a time.”
Watch Nick Timoney’s full interview on The Ireland Rugby Social on BBC NI YouTube, external
Listen to Timoney’s interview with Gavin Andrews on BBC Sounds
