With four uncapped players in Ireland’s match-day squad to face USA on Sunday (kick-off 1pm, live commentary on RTE Radio 1 Extra), second row Aoife McDermott is no longer the new kid on the block.
The Sligo native made her Irish bow just nine months ago against Wales, maintaining her upward trajectory following her decision to switch sports from basketball.
After multiple All-Ireland titles and international recognition on the court - her last appearance in green was in the 2016 European Championships for small countries - McDermott felt she had achieved all she could in the sport and decided on a change.
Though her initial foray into the sport owed a lot to fortune and now Ireland team-mate Jenny Murphy.
"It was a bit mad, it was kind of through Jenny," said McDermott.
"I used to work with Sky Sports Living for Sport with Jenny and we were at a team day, just chatting and she said, 'would you ever give rugby a go?' I said I'd love to, I'd give anything a go and next thing she said she would get her coach to give me a call."
"The girls were like, 'we ruck over' and I was thinking, ‘a ruck? what’s that?"
Director of Women's and Sevens Rugby Anthony Eddy invited her to a sevens session, but McDermott admits it was a daunting time getting to grips with the game.
"I went down to a training session and I hadn't a clue about the rules or systems. The girls were like, 'we ruck over' and I was thinking, ‘a ruck? what’s that?'
"They were talking about working in pods of three but I literally hadn't a clue. So Anthony very kindly suggested that I maybe go to a club and learn the basics, the rules, things like that. I went down to Railway Union and it went from there."
It wasn’t just the fact she was a complete rookie which made the decision a "terrifying" one, it was what she was leaving behind.
"I remember heading down to Railway for my first training and not knowing anyone. I was literally walking away from the starting five of an Irish basketball team after a European Championships to see if this was going to work out or not so it was terrifying."
The lock knuckled down and learned the ropes through supportive team-mates, dedicated coaching and sheer bloody-mindedness.
And that basketball background stood her in good stead. Comfortable with structured set-plays and movements, she quickly thrived as a lineout technician.
"It's definitely my favourite part. I love the lineouts. The systems of the movement and things like that, my handling is at a good level from basketball."
"I just had to worry about playing my own game last year. This year, it's nice to have that added challenge of calling the lineouts"
On Sunday USA come to Donnybrook to give the hosts a stern test of their credentials, and for the first time in her short international career, head coach Adam Griggs has entrusted McDermott the responsibility of calling the lineouts.
"Coming in last year in the way that I did, Griggs was very kind in that he took that pressure off me. I just had to worry about playing my own game last year. This year, it's nice to have that added challenge of calling the lineouts.
"We can have an idea about how to attack that and we definitely will be looking to attack the USA lineouts and try to rob a few and disrupt it, while securing our own ones at the same time."
Having achieved so much in a basketball career, the "terrifying decision" to try her hand with rugby was vindicated with her an Ireland call-up last January.
More comfortable now in her surroundings, McDermott is acutely aware of how the new faces in the squad are feeling.
Full-back Lauren Delany and winger Laura Sheehan will make their debuts at Energia Park, with Emma Hooban and 16-year-old Beibhinn Parsons poised to do likewise off the bench.
"It's about making them feel welcome, putting them at ease," she says.
"I think I was the last player who has been capped, so anyone after this will be the next one, so it's definitely fresh in my mind. We want to give a special experience for them, you only get your first cap once.
"We've got a great buzz around camp this time around. Everyone's getting on really well and it's good fun. The girls have fitted in really well and settled in really well, so it should be a special weekend for them."
Listen to live and exclusive match commentary of Ireland v USA this Sunday on RTE Radio 1 Extra from 12:55pm
