Shayne Bolton hopes he can put into action some of the tips he picked up hanging out with the seniors when Ireland XV take on Spain tomorrow.
The Connacht winger, who was capped against Portugal during the summer when most of the frontliners were away on British and Irish Lions duty, was added as a "cover" player for the trip to Chicago for Ireland v New Zealand.
"The coach has been giving me a few work-ons in my game," the 25-year-old said of Andy Farrell ahead of the 4pm Irish time kick-off against Spain in Leganes.
"I got loads of information [on the US trip], just seeing how the boys look at the game, especially the back threes, how they look at the game, what they're looking at, and how we can take opportunities in the game, looking for where we can attack in the game.
"I think it was a really big two weeks for me, just being in the camp with them and seeing how the preparations go before a big Test week and just getting that feeling and the buzz around the place.
"I feel way more comfortable over the last couple of weeks. I know almost everyone now. [I was] very nervous the first time I came in, just trying to be quiet and kind of sneak under the radar.
"But now I'm bringing out my personality a bit more and feeling way more comfortable."
Asked what he believes he needs to do to push on, the 6ft 2in back (above) said: "I think the preparation is almost more important than the game itself.
"Obviously, we've lots of new detail or moves and stuff in the week before the game.
"So usually with the provinces, all your calls are kind of the same consistently throughout the year, whereas we just have a week now to get that detail, all the moves sorted, how you execute that on the pitch.
"I think we have two training sessions before the game.
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"So they want to see how fast you can learn your detail, and how good you can execute that out on the pitch."
Bolton was born in South Africa and had spells with the Blue Bulls and Cheetahs early in his career.
After finding his progress stalled, he moved to Connacht in the summer of 2021.
He qualifies for Ireland via his Dublin-born grandmother, Noirín Stapleton, who hails from Blackrock.
He explained: "I grew up in South Africa, in Pretoria. I was born there. In school I played for the Blue Bulls, and after school I went to the Cheetahs academy in Bloemfontein, and then when I was 21 I got the contract offer from Connacht.
"I only had a two-year contract out of school at the Cheetahs.
"They didn't offer me a contract extension. So for my third year, I was basically just playing college rugby and I wasn't getting many opportunities there, so I decided to take a chance and come into Ireland and it's paid off.
"[My grandmother] lived close to my home in Pretoria. I've known her all my life.
"She's still with us. I see her every time I go back to South Africa to visit my family. [She’s] very proud of me, sending me messages every game-week.
"[I've] no regrets. It's worked out as I hoped and more. I never thought I'd be in this environment so very thankful."
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