Jack Conan couldn't hide his delight after getting his World Cup campaign under way against Scotland.
The Leinster and Lions back row had been watching on from the sidelines since injuring his foot against Italy at the start of August.
The 31-year-old cut a lonely figure at times over the last two months, working hard in the gym and away from his team-mates as he rehabbed his foot.
But it was worth the wait when he sprinted out on the pitch at the Stade de France in the 48th minute to help see Ireland over the line against the Scots on Saturday.
"I've been here a few weeks on my holidays but the lads have been working hard and I’ve been doing sweet nothing rugby-wise," Conan (below) joked with reporters shortly after winning his 40th cap.
"No, it's fantastic to be out there.
"Obviously we started off incredibly well and you’re thinking I might get on a bit earlier here and get a few minutes. The lungs were hurting, I was blowing really hard but I was always going to be.
"There’s no amount of work in the gym or training that can get you really ready for international rugby, especially World Cups.
"So, I was blowing hard and I was happy enough with how it went. One silly penalty given away but, look, if I get the opportunity to play next week, I’ll be better again and I look forward to that challenge if I do.
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"[The occasion was] class. Just unbelievable.
"You don’t get to fully appreciate it when you’re not playing, it just doesn’t feel the same.
"But to be out there on the pitch when the final whistle goes, to turn around and see what feels like 70 or 80,000 Irish people singing and chanting, and you look around and we see our wives, partners, friends, family in the ground, it’s just unbelievable.
"It’s so special, something that will stick with me long after my career goes."
Conan featured in all three Tests last summer when Ireland recorded a series win for the first time in New Zealand.
The Wicklow man believes that the tour has forged a special bond between the players, who have now gone on a 17-match winning run ahead of Saturday night's rematch with New Zealand, who knocked Ireland out of the 2019 World Cup at the same stage.
"Look, we’re under pressure no matter who we play, but when you’re playing an outfit like New Zealand, who have such quality and such a history about them, it’s definitely heightened," he said.
"Those few weeks in New Zealand were some of the best ever in my rugby career, not just on the pitch but off it as well.
"I think that it’s something that really galvanised this squad and so many of the lads were on that tour and it was an incredibly special few weeks, and it’s set us up well for next week.
"It’s a one-off game, it’s not like a series, but it’s a team that we’re more familiar with because we’ve played them more recently and it will be a fantastic challenge for us."
Meanwhile, Conan's fellow back row Caelan Doris (above) has given an insight as to how the team will build-up for the game in Paris.
"Johnny [Sexton] mentioned at the start of the week, you want to give as much respect to the opposition to almost build a fear amongst ourselves to maximise our preparation," said the 25-year-old.
"Then, as the week goes on, you turn on the confidence and belief from the performances that we’ve had.
"I think that’s served us well over the last while, to try and get the best out of ourselves in preparation through respecting the opposition and through doing our work and then as the week goes on, turn the page.
"Look at we’ve done, look at the player we have and draw confidence from that.
"[It's] not just last summer but there’s been experiences this group has gone through over the last three or four years and the massive belief we have.
"Massive belief in the plan, massive belief in our coaches and each other and it’s based on the performances we’ve had, the wins we’ve had, like in New Zealand last summer. But not just that solely, there’s a huge amount of belief.
"We know New Zealand are going to be a lot better than the last time we faced them.
"They’re sort of out the other side of their development phase and are playing very good stuff. So it’s a very exciting week to be a part of and it’s going to be a massive test."
Listen to live commentary of Ireland v New Zealand on Saturday on RTÉ Radio 1, or follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie and the RTÉ News app.
