Ulster's Michael Lowry believes he's returned from his first Six Nations campaign a more rounded player, and hopes he's helped Hugo Keenan do the same.
While Keenan currently looks locked in as Ireland's first choice full-back, head coach Andy Farrell did use the middle game of the championship against Italy as an opportunity to test out other options, with 23-year-old Lowry scoring two tries in an impressive debut at the Aviva Stadium.
It proved to be the Ulster man's only taste of the Six Nations championship, but it marked a significant step in the versatile back's development this season, in which he's kicked on to become one of the province's most influential players.
"It was definitely the best experience I've ever had," Lowry says from Ulster's Cape Town base, ahead of this afternoon's URC meeting with the Stormers.
"The whole hype of the build up into the game was the best I've ever experienced, and really emotional, but I sort of tried to hold back the emotion and just try to take it all in.
"It was probably the best day of my life, really."
While Lowry excelled when given the opportunity to impress against Italy, Keenan's performances - particularly in the final two games against England and Scotland - would indicate his grip on the 15 jersey is tighter than ever.
However, Lowry says he's happy to continue to develop, and says he's like to think his own performances are driving Keenan and other full-back contenders on.
"I think we both take aspects of each other's game. We helped each other right through the campaign.
"That's why Hugo played so well, it's that we were both being really competitive throughout the campaign, and helping each other.
"Even when Hugo knew he wasn't playing the Italy game, he would have helped me out a lot, it was my first game and making sure I was nice and calm, and it really helped me understand what the Irish coaches want from full-back.
"Hugo's been playing brilliantly, I can't fault him at all. We take from each other's game, because if you start looking too much at other players games it takes away from your own.
"He's so calm, he works really, really hard and you can see it out on the pitch," he added.
Lowry starts at full-back for Ulster this afternoon, as they look to claim a first touring win in South Africa this season, following a clean sweep of defeats for Munster, Cardiff, Scarlets and Zebre in recent weeks.
And while Dan McFarland's side don't have to contend with the challenges of altitude until next week's meeting with the Bulls in Pretoria, they will have to endure the Cape Town heat this afternoon, which is expected to hit 22C.
"We trained on Tuesday and Thursday, so we're getting used to the conditions, how hot it'll be," continued Lowry.
"We tried different methods of cooling ourselves down. It will be a test, but hopefully we can bring our attacking game and our best defensive performance of the season.
"It will be a test, they have quality individuals, it's going to be a fast game and fast track.
"It'll be the best conditions we've played in and will allow us to play our game a wee bit."
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