Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE AMERICAN PRECEDENT..
Marmion: I’ve been on tour to the States before but I’m hoping that I won’t be kicking my heels this time
KIERAN MARMION went to America four years ago thinking it would be his Land of Opportunity.
It didn’t work out that way. He was third in the scrum-half pecking order behind Isaac Boss and Paul Marshall, and returned to Galway with his ambition of getting capped unfulfilled. Since then, the Connacht ace has shown what he has to offer his country. And, with Conor Murray on Lions duty in New Zealand, he flies out to the States today believing he’s the man in possession of the No.9 jersey for the Test in New Jersey on Saturday. “I was pretty young, 20-21, and it was a bit daunting,” recalls Marmion. “I was hoping to get capped. I probably knew I wasn’t going to start as there were three No.9s there – but I hoped to get game time. “I gained a lot of confidence going into next season – but I guess I got to see a lot of Canada and America! “We went up to Niagara Falls and (American Football star) JJ Watt looked after us and took us to his house, there were some good life experiences. “But Joe (Schmidt) has said the same here – he can’t just hand out caps, you’ve got to earn them. “It’s a great opportunity for myself and a lot of other lads. “There’s a lot of excitement, a lot of the lads will get chances who may not get chances if the first-choice guys are here. It’s a good opportunity to make an impression, put our hands up and show what we can do.” The Welsh-born half-back has never shirked a challenge when asked to come in and do a job – even when he had to play as a replacement wing against Australia in the thrilling November victory. But his biggest moment was coming on in place of Murray against England in the Six Nations finale this year. “It gives me huge confidence to play in those sort of environments,” Marmion said. “Playing against one of the top teams in the world, you know you can play against the best. “It was a whole lot bigger than any game I’ve played before, but going out there and being thrown in is the best way to learn from it. A great opportunity and I really enjoyed it. “It gives you confidence going back into you province and then in other games with Ireland knowing you have got that in the bank. “You can try and work from there and push on. “Joe has challenged a few of us to step up who probably wouldn’t have been senior players before. “I guess I’m one of them who’ve been around for a bit of time now. “There’s an opportunity off the field as well, to step up and try to lead a bit more.”