I’m happy with that says Tiger
Veteran Tommy still has international ambitions
TOMMY BOWE insists he can force his way back into the Ireland set-up.
The 33-year-old has enjoyed a sparkling international career and twice toured with the Lions, back in 2009 and 2013
But despite reaching veteran status, the Ulster star says he isn’t ready to rest on his laurels just yet.
He revealed: “If you had asked me last year, I maybe would have been thinking ‘ah, jeez, I don’t know if I can’.
“But the way my body feels now, I feel great. I’d love to keep going.
“I’ve had my share of injuries the last few years, and that always makes you question.
“But the way things are at the minute if I can keep pushing hard, keep competing with the young fellas, I don’t want to give up just yet, no.”
Bowe says he’s playing “with a smile on my face” again but admits it’s tough for him and Andrew Trimble to watch their Ulster team-mates head off on Ireland duty.
Key men in the
Irish back-line for so long, they now have their hands full to nail down a spot for their province, such has been the rise of wing wonder Jacob Stockdale (inset), who bagged three tries for Ireland in the autumn series.
Bowe said: “Myself and Trimby would love to be down in Ireland camp. The hunger is there.
“Whenever you see Jacob coming through, Rob Lyttle last year, they’re putting their hands up to start for Ulster, to be down in Ireland camp.
“There’s a huge job on our hands now.
“If you have a bad day at training, or a bad game, you can’t expect to keep your place – but that’s what’s needed.
“It’s a case of us pushing it on. Jacob, in fairness, has played very well, he deserves his place and it’s up to us to push him for those other spots.”
For tonight’s Pro14 away match at the Dragons, Bowe starts in midfield alongside Stuart Mccloskey, who’s also just back from international duty.
Craig Gilroy – another man hoping to get back into the Ireland set-up – Charles Piutau and Louis Ludik form a potentially lethal back three.
Ireland skipper Rory Best is on the bench alongside Chris Henry, who returns from injury.
Bowe scored a try in last week’s win over Benetton Treviso and says: “It’s great, I’m really enjoying my rugby.
“The body feels good and just to have that consistency again of playing week on week... I’m enjoying training, I’m playing with a smile on my face.
“I maybe look a bit fed up if the ball isn’t coming my way but that shows that I’m greedy, that I’m enjoying it.
“Hopefully, I can keep that up with this big block of games coming up.” TIGER WOODS declared himself highly satisfied after making an encouraging start to his latest injury comeback in the Hero World Challenge.
Woods has started just three events since August 2015 and withdrew from his most recent tournament in February in Dubai after an opening 77.
The 14-time Major winner subsequently underwent spinal fusion surgery in April, his fourth back operation in the space of three years, but for the second year in succession has returned to action in the Bahamas.
Woods is currently ranked 1,199th in the world and began the week a 40/1 outsider in the 18-man field.
And those odds looked somewhat generous as Woods carded an opening 69 at Albany to lie three shots off the lead held by European number one Tommy Fleetwood.
“For me I thought I did great,” Woods said. “I hadn’t played in a while after some of the difficulties I’ve been through.
“To come out here and score like I did, that was nice. It was fun to get out there and actually be part of a scorecard again.
“I didn’t know what I could do. I’ve been playing a lot of holes at home but it’s a little different when you’ve got to tee it up in a tournament.
“I had a lot of adrenalin. I was hitting the ball a little bit longer than I normally do and had to dial it back a little bit. Those are the internal struggles I haven’t been through as a player for a while.
“It was not only nice to get that first round out of the way but I’m only three shots out of the lead.”