TASTY IRISH STU
It was seven years between Mccloskey’s first & second Six Nations outings but Ulster ace is giving Farrell food for thought with his impressive displays
STUART MCCLOSKEY scratched a seven-year itch in Cardiff on Saturday, one that at times he never thought would be possible.
The Ulsterman made his Six Nations debut for Ireland in late February 2016 as a 23-year-old, starting at inside centre alongside Robbie Henshaw at Twickenham.
He would have believed that, despite a difficult day for Ireland and a 22-10 loss, it was going to be the first of plenty of appearances in the championship.
However, Mccloskey had to wait until the start of the 2023 Six Nations for his second one.
Henshaw’s injury issues and Bundee Aki’s suspension gave the big midfielder the chance to impress Andy Farrell in November and he took it, starting all three fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Australia. “There were definitely times in those seven years when I didn’t think I would ever get another game,” Mccloskey admitted.
Ireland’s next game up is against France on Saturday but in February 2020 Mccloskey had been due to play in his second Six Nations game against Les Bleus.
“I was pretty close just before Covid hit,” he recalled. “I was in the team on the Monday to play France and I thought that was a chance I probably wouldn’t get again.
“I’ve been playing well. It’s not like I haven’t been playing well in the last seven years so I also thought if I just kept persevering, digging in, that eventually I would get a chance.”
Then boss Joe Schmidt may or may not have made his mind up on Mccloskey after that 2016 Twickenham encounter.
But there was also the little matter of Henshaw and Aki being ahead in the queue for that No.12 jersey.
“The two guys did brilliantly when they were in there so I couldn’t really overly complain too much, they were both starting for the Lions at one stage and they were playing at 12 ahead of me,” he smiled.
“There have been times when I was disheartened. I was playing well, I wasn’t getting picked but I didn’t have a leg to stand on because the lads were playing really well and Ireland were winning.
“It was probably the best period of Irish rugby, especially at centre, we’ve ever really had, especially depth-wise.
“It was tough at times but I like to take a bit of heart from the fact I stayed in there and finally got a chance.
“I’ve played four games, we’ve won all four, I don’t think that’s all down to me particularly but it’s nice to win the games when you’re
playing. I can’t say it hasn’t been hard at times but it’s nice to get that monkey off my back.”
A player needs support in those hard times and Mccloskey is grateful for his wife Hannah in that regard.
“Hannah has been with me since the start,” he explained. “When thinking about going away and playing in different places she felt that if I stuck at it that maybe I would get a chance and I’d regret it if I did go so it’s turned out alright.
She’s delighted I’m here but I think she was finding it a bit tough there the last two weeks I was away. Obviously with a three-year-old it’s a bit tough sometimes and we’re doing up the house as well.”
He adds he wasn’t “very, very close” to leaving Ulster for fresh pastures though there were times when he thought about it.
“Ulster have been brilliant to me over the years so it wasn’t just about Ireland, it was Ulster as well,” he said.