So much has happened to Joey Carbery in the space of 12 months.
Last year he was an unused replacement as Joe Schmidt's side scraped past France at the Stade de France courtesy of international rival Johnny Sexton's last-gasp drop-goal.
The out-half found himself behind Ross Byrne in the role of Leinster back-up and while province and country swept the boards by the end of the campaign, the 23-year-old wanted more.
Talk of potential as a starting 10 has been put into practice.
Aside from an off-day from the kicking tee away to Castres in the Heineken Champions Cup, Carbery has been a revelation in red since his move to Munster.
He contributed to the Series win in Australia and the November victory over the All Blacks, but it all stems from playing regular rugby.
"I'm playing week in, week out at such a high level," he told RTÉ Sport.
"I'm learning kind of as I go, learning on the job. I'm loving every minute down there and you have your good and your bad days, but you take what you can from each."
The bad days have been few and far between, but the Auckland-born player needs little reminding of his kicking difficulties against Castres.
"Four from seven isn't great, but then it's a tough place to go. I haven't looked at that game as anything out of the norm."
Now the task facing him is usurping the reigning World Player of the Year, not just challenging him.
The task is an onerous one by any stretch. Carbery is yet to start a Six Nations game and has played in the tournament for a grand total of 59 minutes.
Sexton, who hasn't featured since the interprovincial defeat at Thomond Park before Christmas, is expected to be fully fit for Saturday, but Carbery is happy with his game as he seeks to make the step-up as understudy.
Game management is referenced as one of the aspects of his game that has improved with the change in provinces, but has the relationship with Sexton altered at all?
"I don't think so at all. Everyone in this group is trying to make Ireland better and if that makes the players better, which competition does, then that's a winning environment. The more we push each other it will benefit Ireland. Nothing has changed, the more competition makes both of us better."
The recent tempestuous clash between the Irish rivals saw Leinster suffer three yellow cards and a dismissal as Munster sent their supporters home happy.
It also allowed Carbery pit his wits against Sexton is the heat of battle, and one particular exchange saw the Leinster man fire a few verbals in the direction of his international colleague.
It doesn't seem, however, to have made any impression on Carbery.
"I think every game is pretty heated when there's that much on the team. Nothing has been said [in camp], and nothing needs to be."
An improvement on four replacement appearances is the aim for the Six Nations, but the out-half knows all he can do is apply pressure in training and hope an opportunity presents itself.
It could also be at full-back if Rob Kearney and/or Jordan Larmour are sidelined through injury and Carbery has been standing in at 15 in some training runs this season.
Eddie Jones' side will give Ireland's title defence a stern test on Saturday evening and Carbery is expecting the English artillery in the form to Ben Te'o, Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi to run down the 10 channel at every opportunity.
"You just have to get your systems and connections with the person inside and outside you, see if there are any traits you can pick up on or read.
"It's pretty much then trying to get your tackle technique right and hopefully put them down."
Follow Ireland v England (4.45pm) via our liveblog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the News Now app, or listen to live national radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
