It's nearly three years since Niall Scannell last played for Ireland, and as recently as a few days ago it didn't look like he'd be pulling on a green shirt any time soon.
While the 30-year-old won't have earned an official Test cap for his appearance against the Maori All Blacks yesterday, his 30 minutes in Hamilton will mean as much to him as any of his 20 previous appearances.
The Munster hooker had only landed in New Zealand on Tuesday, having been rushed over at the last minute following an injury to Rob Herring.
And having been on holiday in Portugal when he got the call from Farrell, he didn't even have time to pack his rugby gear, admitting he was wearing Andrew Porter's spare boots, which had been specially embroidered for last month's Champions Cup final.
"They were alright at scrumtime in fairness to them, I must enquire about keeping them," he said, before admitting they might be a bit too blue to wear back in Cork.
"The only problem was they said 'Final Marseille Champions Cup' on them, which was a hard one for a Munster man to wear!
"The minute I came in the door he said he had the same size and gave them to me, fair play to him. I badly needed them. Most of the lads were the same.
"To be fair, they were all helping me out with boots, gumshields, shoulder pads, gear, the whole lot, they all rowed in to get me out on the pitch.
"I just had to try do my best in terms of learning the lineouts and plays. Obviously the performance didn't go the way we planned, but I was delighted to get some gametime, and to be back in camp was great for me and hugely energising.
"I'd sacrifice the holidays for that any day."
Scannell had been "enjoying a few beverages" on holidays in Portugal with his wife and brothers when the call came from Farrell late on Sunday night. Within minutes he was packing a bag and enroute to the airport. He can see the sights of Alvor another time.
"Walking back into them to tell them I had to leave straight away because I was going to New Zealand was a great buzz and they were delighted for me.
"Maeve, my wife, was delighted as well, and in fairness to her she was left over in Portugal, so I'm sure I will owe her another good holiday when I get home.
"She's great, it's very tough for families when there's a bit of unknown. Unfortunately I didn't make the initial squad, you make your plans and head off. Things change, and she was very accepting in fairness to her.
"She just helped me get packed, got me on the road to Faro airport, and that was the start of the whirlwind. It was a bit surreal when I woke up this morning, thinking I was going to play a game or Ireland.
"I'm just hugely grateful to be out here to be honest."
Having been a regular in Joe Schmidt's final two seasons in charge, Scannell was left out if Farrell's first Irish camp in February 2020, as the new coach turned his head towards younger players in Rónan Kelleher and Dan Sheehan.
With Sheehan, Heffernan and Rob Herring all ahead of him in the pecking order, it would seem that the Munster man is still a few rungs down on the ladder of hooking options, but he was one of Ireland's better performers in his second half cameo in Hamilton, shoring up their scrum and looking lively for a man whose body clock didn't know what time of the day it was.
Even if he doesn't add to his 20 caps during the Test series, there is still one more game against the Maori to target in 12 June, and for a man whose international career looked to be over, that glimmer of hope is enough for now.
"I had a whirlwind few days, to be honest I was just delighted. I was away on holidays, I was delighted to get the call, it's been a while since I was in here, and I had about 48 hours to travel on my own which was tough going, but as soon as I got into camp with the lads there was a great energy.
"It was just great to come into that environment you haven't been in for a while and everyone was just so welcoming, rowing in, I was delighted with how the lads helped me out for the last 36 hours to get me out on the field.
"It's a phone call I've been waiting for for a long time, I was just really happy to get it. I'd do it again in the morning.
"The result didn't go our way but at the same time it was always hugely special to put on an Irish jersey. To do it again after such a long period was brilliant. I'd sacrifice the beach, I'm sure I'll get there again.
"I still have a long way to go in terms of catching up with the immense detail the lads have. I'll keep working at that, and you just got to be ready when that opportunity comes, you have to be ready to hop on a plane, you got to be ready to play. At the same time, I'm huge believer that what you put in on the field is your product. Once we faced the Haka and the game started, I'm the same as everyone else, you can't leave the lads down.
"I just have to put the head down and keep preparing. If I get another opportunity on the tour, great."
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