Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
In the Nick of time for Ulster star
BY MICHAEL SCULLY
NICK TIMONEY played like he was on a mission on Saturday – and he was.
Speaking last week, the Ulster flanker addressed his place in Andy Farrell’s selection pecking order.
He pointed out that, while he came off the bench against Argentina last November, the last time he was actually picked for a Test game was in the summer of 2021.
So Timoney knows he has work to do to get on the plane for France 2023 and, in a disappointing team performance, the 27-year-old stood out against Fiji as he scored two tries and topped Ireland’s tackle count.
“I’d like to think that’s always how I play games,” he said.
“Had I not shown up, who knows, it could have been my last time playing in green.
“I was given a huge opportunity and I certainly felt a huge onus on myself to make the most of it.
“It certainly didn’t go terribly. There’s areas to improve on, but I felt I was involved and I gave an account of myself.”
That’s exactly what Timoney wanted to do because he doesn’t want to be left in the shadows with such a big Test year ahead.
“I don’t want to be happy just coming and getting starts against the non Tier one nations,” he stressed.
“I want to be involved in the Test team properly and to be contributing in the big games. I would love to be part of that.
“I would hate the idea of ever being happy about playing just in three tests because there are knocks to others or whatever. I don’t know what will happen, there are worldclass back-rowers ahead of me.”