IT’S BEEN A long time coming for Craig Gilroy.
Having burst onto the scene with scintillating try against Argentina in Dublin all the way back in November 2012, Gilroy will be winning just his eighth cap for Ireland against South Africa at Ellis Park this afternoon.
Gilroy has very much been on the periphery of selection under Joe Schmidt with his last Test start coming against Georgia in November 2014, although he did come off the bench late on during last Saturday’s frantic finale in Cape Town.
There was certainly plenty of raised eyebrows when the Guinness Pro12’s joint-leading try-scorer were omitted from the initial touring squad with injuries to the Kearney brothers and Luke Fitzgerald opening the door for Gilroy.
Now, the 24-year-old, who was the only Ulster player to make the Pro12 team of the season, has finally got his opportunity and will be looking to showcase his pace and trademark pirouette against the Springboks.
“I think for me this will be my eighth cup now and it’ll be a massive privilege and it’s a complete honour for me to be able to play for my country,” said the flying Ulster winger.
“There’s guys who go throughout professional rugby and they don’t get that opportunity, they don’t get capped by their country and I feel privileged to have had that opportunity and continue to get it.
“I think there’s some guys who are a bit older than me and they’re getting their first cap. So, I mean for me, I’m always learning, I’m always training and working hard and I think I’ve won Joe over in a way and tried to bring my little bit of what I can do, add a bit of a spark and deliver what he wants as well.
Joe Schmidt certainly demands a lot from his wide players. Pace and finishing skills are simply not enough for the Ireland head coach; breakdown accuracy, solid defence and reliable aerial skills are all key attributes for an archetypal Schmidt winger.
Gilroy has never wanted for flair or pace, but he now feels that is the more-rounded rugby player that the Kiwi desires in his set-up.
“It’s just a lot of… you get some wingers who maybe just stand on the wing and they wait for the ball,” Gilroy explained.
There will be plenty of familiar faces across the backline for Gilroy with Jared Payne, Andrew Trimble, Stuart Olding and Paddy Jackson completing a five-strong Ulster contingent.
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Payne, who has starred for the northern province at full-back for the past few seasons, was finally unleashed in the No 15 jersey for Ireland at Newlands and the Kiwi did not disappoint with his intelligent running lines and offloading causing the Boks defence all sorts of problems.