Not exactly a chiseled veteran but Ulster back row Dave McCann was thrust into the role of elder statesman on Saturday night.
Dan McFarland's injury-depleted side lost out narrowly to Connacht at the Sportsground, 22-20, after leading by 17 points with 32 minutes to play.
That they almost pulled off a fine win with a callow side will be of some comfort. Another positive from the evening was the continued good form of McCann, who at just 23 has 31 senior appearances to his name.
Flanker Reuben Crothers, lock Joe Hopes and back Ben Carson were making their senior debuts, while Eric O'Sullivan, John Andrew, Harry Sheridan, Dave Shanahan, Aaron Sexton, Stewart Moore, Ben Moxham and Ethan McIlroy came in for first starts of the season in Galway.
In addition, Ireland full-back Will Addison pulled up with a hamstring injury in the warm-up.
Starting among the replacements, McCann, who leads the BKT URC tackle chart, came off the bench after just two minutes when Crothers was forced off for a head injury assessment.
"I think he is ready," Bernard Jackman told the RTÉ Rugby podcast. "I think he will be very much in that rotation for first-team places in that back row."
Asked about being one of the older players on the night, McCann said: "It was a change but it was good.
"I feel that some of the people who are younger, Tom [Stewart], Doaky [Neil Doak], Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy, have actually played 50 times, a couple of them, so they had the experience, and then it was good to help Carsey, Reuben and Joe on their debuts so it was a rewarding experience.
"It was a step forward for us defensively, there was a lot of adversity, chopping and changing right up until the warm-up but I think we dealt with that and came out of the blocks well but unfortunately the result didn't go our way."
Next up are Munster, who come into Friday night's derby clash unbeaten after victories over the Sharks and the Dragons either side of a draw with Benetton.
"It's an interpro so it's going to be physical," said McCann (above), whose side had wins over the Bulls and Zebre to their name.
"It's going to be competitive and I think we showed at the weekend that we are up for that and we are ready for that challenge.
"It's just about focusing on our game and allowing ourselves, in possession, to be physical and challenge Munster around the gainline."
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Watch Ulster v Munster in the URC on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra
Watch Dragons v Leinster in the URC on Sunday from 1pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
