If you were slightly taken aback to see Rob Baloucoune's name on the teamsheet for last weekend's win over Italy you weren't the only one.
For company, you have the Cat himself, as his team-mates have named him, so called because he's a "laidback...in general" character that could take a nap anywhere.
Anywhere, of course, except the right wing berth where, at the age of 28, he is enjoying a brilliant season with Ulster, embellished with a Six Nations man of the match nod last Saturday when he scored the crucial third try.
"To be honest, I was surprised at being in camp, so I will just take every chance that I get," says the Fermanagh man.
Baloucoune made his Ireland debut in a summer Test win over USA in 2021, scoring a try, and got his second cap that autumn against Argentina.
He couldn't work his way into Andy Farrell's plans for the championship but came in for the 19-16 November win over South Africa back in autumn 2022, and retained his place for the following week's victory over Fiji in which he scored another try.
But the Enniskillen man's career has been nothing if not stop-start and since his Ulster debut in October 2018, he's managed an average of just over nine clubs games per season; his best run was 17 matches in 2021/22 season and last year's injury issues saw him feature just twice under Richie Murphy.
He missed last summer's tour to Georgia and Portugal but got a run out with an Ireland XV that hammered Spain last November, but it was more apt that his conversations with the Ireland camp in the four years since winning his last senior cap were with the medical staff and not the management.
Since coming on to the scene, the former Sevens international has been in vying with the likes of Keith Earls, James Lowe, Jacob Stockdale, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien, Calvin Nash, Shayne Bolton and Jimmy O'Brien, while team-mate Zac Ward had also been grabbing Farrell's attention of late.
Between health and competition for game time, did Baloucoune ever think that the Ireland ship had sailed?
"To be honest, yeah, probably," he says. "When you're not playing, it still seems pretty far away.
"You know, it had been a while and playing for Ulster was even looking a bit dreadful.
"Obviously, I only played two games last season.
"I got a good run of games this season and was playing well and the team was playing well as well, which helped my ability to get back into the game and scoring tries always helps.
"But I was surprised getting selected for the camp. When I got the opportunity, I wanted to put my best foot forward and I felt like I did that on the weekend."
Farrell hailed Baloucoune's try against Italy, that came after a multi-phase move, as one of the best scored by an Irish team. Crucially, it put Ireland in the lead as they held on for a nervy 20-13 win.
Much was made of Ulster team-mate Stuart McCloskey's assist (above), an overhead quarterback-style pass to Baloucoune. But there was still work to do from 18 metres out and the 6ft 4in back showed his footwork and pace to beat two defenders to the line.
"If you look back at a few tries, you'll see with Ulster that I've received a lot of passes from him like that, a basketball loop or an NFL pass," he recalls.
"It's something he's good at and something I look for and it's a good way for me to get tries off him as well.
"There's a bit of space in front of me and I was able to beat the defender. I was just trying to get to the tryline and do what I do and beat them for pace."
The speed of the man is undeniable but Farrell has long since asked for more from his wide men. There is an expectation that wingers don't stay in their lanes.
"Back in the last time I was playing, I was probably just kind of staying out on the wing," he says.
"Mark Sexton came into Ulster and he's wanted more from the wingers. I'm trying to get off my wing more and get involved in plays and get my hands on the ball."
He's feeling as fit as he's ever been and reckons his URC hat-trick for Ulster at Ellis Park against the Lions in October was a pivotal moment in his resurgence.
"Probably [I've put on] a bit of weight," he says after overcoming various hamstring, shoulder, and ankle issues that have set him back over the years.
"I've gone through different stages of bulking and then not enjoying it and dropping a bit of weight.
"I had a big pre-season with Ulster, did a lot of stuff with the Irish physio, trying to get my hamstrings sorted and doing a lot of sprint work and stuff like that.
"That's kind of made me a bit more robust and I’m probably the fittest that I've been in my whole life."
As second jumping off points go, Baloucoune, providing he stays fit, is well placed to push for a regular starting place, even when Hansen and Hugo Keenan return from their injuries.
Twickenham, where he played for Ireland Sevens back in 2018, today is the next step and as always, it means so much for the player and his family to pull on the green shirt.
"It's unbelievable. I probably didn't see myself really playing rugby because I started late and stuff and you know the Irish jersey kind of felt so out of place for me.
"But my first cap, I'll remember it for the rest of my life and it was so memorable and the amount of family and support that came down and the people wishing you good luck and stuff, it's unbelievable.
"Playing for your nation, it's class.
"My mum was down at the game. She hadn't been down obviously in a while, and she was buzzing.
"She's gotten well into rugby, so she's trying to give me tips - mostly about catching the ball and tips and tricks that I should be doing - which I hate, but it's funny.
"It's great to see her there and I had friends and family all down at the game and it makes it way more memorable."
He's relishing the Richmond return today where the hosts are looking to bounce back from last weekend's 31-20 loss to Scotland.
"It’s always something you can get up for as well," he says.
"They'll be hurting, so we know what type of game that's going to be. It's going to be physical and we know what we have to bring.
"We've looked at their kicking game and I think it's something that we actually dealt well with in the Italy game.
"We dealt with their kicks and it’s a good way for us to get back into the game, so we've got the plan set in place and, yeah, we'll go with it."
Watch England v Ireland in the Six Nations from 1pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch France v Italy in the Six Nations on Sunday from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
