Jimmy O'Brien hopes his backline versatility puts him in the mix for further call-ups to the Ireland squad.
The Leinster player, who notched a Champions Cup hat-trick against Bath in January, was added to Andy Farrell’s panel before last weekend’s game against Italy and pitted against the likes of James Lowe, Jordan Larmour, Andrew Conway, Robert Baloucoune and Mack Hansen.
With Farrell on record has saying he doesn’t want 'tidy’ wingers, O’Brien believes his experience across the back line will enable him to fit into the boss’s plans.
"I do play like that a little bit because wing would probably be my third position now," he said ahead of the URC champions trip to Benetton Treviso on Saturday (12.55pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
"On the depth chart, it’s probably 15, 13 then wing is the one I’ve played the least.
"I kind of do end up coming off my wing and trying to play like that.
"I’ve talked to Felipe [Contepomi, Leinster backs coach] about it and he said just play how you normally play, you are not boxed in to being a winger.
"I was trying to look at wingers and do what they do but it doesn’t come too naturally to me.
"Hopefully that suits how they play in Ireland.
"Let’s say I’m playing on the wing, and Hugo [Keenan’s] playing full-back, I kind of know where he’d be thinking I should be because if I was full-back I’d know where I want my winger to be.
"It definitely helps playing multiple positions. Again, if I’m on the wing I know where the 13 wants me ‘cos I’ve played there so much."
Last week’s call-up was the 25-year-old's first official time to join the squad and the Kildare man, who has made 42 appearances for the four-time European champions since his debut in 2018.
"It was great, I was so excited to go in," he said.
"It was my first proper time I’ve been included in a squad. I went in once when I was a young lad, just to go in and train.
"I knew a good few of the [Leinster] lads and I’ve played Sevens with Rob Baloucoune. I’m excited to get back and play and perform at a good level for Leinster so I can get in the next squad.
"I’m just focusing on myself. Someone told me you can be like ‘oh, I’m not playing as well as them’ but you are kind of up against yourself. I just want to keep getting better and hopefully that’s good enough."
Ireland are due to hold their first open training session in over two years as pandemic restrictions wind down and despite having to maintain a bubble in the camp, O’Brien detailed some of the non-rugby activities.
"It’s a very tight-knit squad and everyone gets on," said the former Newbridge College pupil.
"They try to have a bit of craic in the evenings. They have a few games and stuff like that, a few competitions within the squad to get everyone to gel.
"There’s darts and pool and some lads were doing a dizzy putting competition where you have to spin around just to get a bit of energy going so it was good craic.
"I didn’t get picked because I’m a lefty and they only had a right-handed putter so I had to take myself out."
Follow all of Ireland's Six Nations games via our live blogs on rte.ie/sport and on the RTÉ News App or listen to live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch live coverage of England v Ireland on Saturday 12 March on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Highlights on Against the Head, Mondays, 8pm
