Evergreen Fergus proving that he still has a major role to play with Ireland
I have come to a point where I know what’s working for me
ELEVEN months ago, Fergus McFadden’s inclusion in the round five Ireland squad to face England created a stink.
Injured that winter and lacking form since his fitful comeback, the reaction was incredulous when it was revealed he would be training with Joe Schmidt’s side as they formulated a plan to bounce back from defeat at Wales and put a stop to the English Grand Slam-chasing chariot. So many people felt other players were worthier of the call-up to replace Tommy Bowe.
Fast forward to February 2018, though, and no one raised a puzzled eye brow when McFadden, lately enjoying a remarkable renaissance at the age of 31 with Leinster, was handed his 33rd Test cap in the final moments of the comeback win over France in Paris a fortnight ago.
His appearance bridged a yawning 23-month gap back to his previous run in an Ireland shirt, an introduction off the bench in the March 2016 home victory against Scotland.
He didn’t shirk getting stuck in either, carrying once to a Stade de France ruck and making a pass in the incredible 41-phase move that set Johnny Sexton up for his dramatic drop goal clincher.
To say the moment was cherished after being so long out of the loop is an understatement. ‘It was sweet to get a cap again, and I came into the camp with a selfassurance I was in here on merit as well,’ he reckoned.
‘I have played well enough to get in, so I just came in just trying to prove myself in training and bring the things that I had been bringing playing for Leinster.
‘Certainly, the way the game panned out it was sweet for everyone.
‘The finish to that game, it was a scrappy game, but it turned into an iconic moment for Johnny to knock that drop goal over and for us all to jump on top of him then at the end of the pitch. It doesn’t usually happen at the end of rugby match, so it was enjoyable.’
McFadden fully understood the competent part he needed to play. He had featured off the Ireland bench on 17 occasions before Paris, and anyway Schmidt apparently holds a mini-meeting with his entire replacements list near the end of a match-week so that everyone has the necessary guidelines on message.
But then came the post-game kicker — he would be surplus to requirements for last weekend’s home game with Italy, a decision that left him on Pro14 duty in Edinburgh. It was quite the come down, playing in front of 74,878 people one Saturday and then just 3,930 in the lifeless surroundings of Myreside six days later.
But he didn’t allow the disappointment to fester and was rewarded this week by being one of the 22 players brought along to Ireland’s mini training camp in Athlone while Jordan Larmour, who had replaced him as 23rd man, returned to Leinster to use today’s league match with Scarlets as an opportunity to iron out some trycosting Back in Blue: Jordan Larmour defensive kinks exposed by the Azzurri. It has left McFadden with his fingers crossed that he can now get a Six Nations look-in against Wales next weekend. ‘I wouldn’t have had a sense (I would be left out for Italy), but you can pick things up from training. Listen, Jordan has been outstanding for Leinster this year, so it was a great game for him to get experience in. ‘I thought he showed his electric feet in making that great break, so delighted to see him getting that chance and it was a great day for him. ‘Please God (it’s now my turn). You can’t presume anything with such a competitive squad. All I have been trying to do since I got back in after not being in the Irish squad for around a season has been just trying to impress the coaches in training, really, so I have just been trying to train as best as I can and put my best foot forward there.’
McFadden has been one of Leinster’s best players all season and added his take on why he is now back in favour for club and country.
‘It’s been a combination of staying fit and I suppose getting a bit of confidence back after getting a four or five-game block in big matches.
‘The coaches have backed me in Leinster in the big games particularly, and I have proved my worth over a few weeks there.
‘It was nice to get the confidence back and just get back to playing at the level I can. Now that I’m in here [with Ireland], I’m looking to be involved as much as possible and trying to break into the team.
‘There’s small things I have been focusing on. I’m at an age now where I have got to be a lot more conscious about my recovery and how I take care of myself.
‘That is probably something that I have addressed this year. It has been better from previous seasons.
‘You always heard the likes of Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll talking about it when I was in my mid-20s, and you are thinking, “That’s never going to be me”.
‘But then when you get on it’s just about listening to your body. It sounds like a bit of a silly thing to say but it’s true — people can preach to you all you want, but until you have the experiences yourself.
‘It’s just about knowing what is right for you as an individual and I have come to a point where I know what’s working for me.’
No wonder Schmidt has been impressed.