"Settled Nerves" - Nathan Doak felt 'at home' for Ireland debut with Ulster teammates

Doak only had to wait 23 minutes to be flung onto into the fray, as he replaced Jamison Gibson-Park for a brief blood injury replacement. Once the Leinster man had the cut on his knee all fixed up, Doak would then wait on the side-lined before returning on his debut for the closing moments of the match.

"I don't actually think that's happened to me before." Doak said, when asked about the unique debut. "But, because it was so quick, you don't have time to think, so it was actually quite a nice thing as well, and then obviously makes it easier coming on the second time as well. So it helps settle nerves."

Nathan expressed how he has had plenty of messages of support from friends and family this week, with his father Neil Doak on hand as a constant guiding light. A former scrum half in his own right, Neil Doak was once called upon to reinforce the Ireland bench, yet he did not get onto the pitch. Nathan had long been told to 'go one further', as he reflected upon a momentous match for his family.

"It's been a class week, my family were down there for the jersey presentation during the week, had dinner with them at the Shelbourne [Hotel - Ireland training camp] so that was a nice touch. Then had them here tonight with me, so it has been a great week.

Speaking on the advice from his Dad, Doak added; "[He told me] Just to relax, be yourself, and you know you deserve to be there. He's helped me throughout my whole career, a sounding board for me. Haven't spoken to him that much after the game, but I know he'd be delighted, so he will."

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell quipped in his post-match press conference, that Doak was chomping at the bit to get into the match day squad since being called up into the Six Nations camp. Whilst the Ulster scrum half would not call this 'desperate' to wear the green jersey, he did not down play just how much it meant to him to answer Ireland's call.

"No, I don't think desperate is the right word." Doak explained. "I think every player wants to play for Ireland. I have a hundred caps in the URC, so I'm well experienced and I have had to wait my time, but I have had to get better at my game to deserve a shot.

"So, I feel like this is the right time for me, now I feel like I'm playing my best rugby with the minute, so that was quite fitting."

Doak then looked back upon some near-misses to run out for Ireland, having been on the fringes of making his international debut throughout the past three years.

"I suppose, yeah [it is frustrating]. When you've been around quite a bit, at such a young age, you're just eager to get in there, because that's where your aspirations are. But, at the same time, Ulster have to be playing well, and you have to be at the forefront of that to get in here, it's not easy to play for Ireland.

"They've been the best team in the world, it's kind of showing that Ulster are doing well, and we're reaping the benefits of that, that we're finally getting a chance in here."

Ulster are enjoying a resurgent season in the United Rugby Championship, as the Belfast side currently sit within the play-off spots. Sixth in the table, with seven wins from 11 matches and with at least one game in hand upon those ahead of them, Ulster look poised for a strong finish to the end of the season.

There has been a strong contingency of Ulster players in the Ireland squad to reflect this, with the likes of Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Cormac Izchukwu, Tom O'Toole, Nick Timoney and Rob Baloucoune all featuring in the Six Nations so far, which has helped Doak feel right at home in the Ireland camp.

"All the lads have made me feel very at home throughout the whole week, through the last four or five weeks or so. It's really easy to fit in here and be yourself."

"It's class. I think there is a stat during the week that there were no Ulster players in the last Wales game, to having seven tonight. The work that we're putting in up there and that we're desperate to come and play for the green jersey, because that's where all our aspirations are."