RYAN BAIRD has needed to await his probability in a recreation of this magnitude however yesterday the 23-year-old took the chance with each fingers when handed a beginning berth in opposition to England.
It represented solely Baird’s third Check begin – the earlier two coming in opposition to the USA and Italy – however the second row greater than performed his half in Eire’s 29-16 win at Aviva Stadium.
Aggressive and dynamic, there’s been a lot pleasure round Baird’s potential for a few years now and on a big day at Lansdowne Highway he obtained to showcase that capability on the largest stage but – together with an excellent steal on the bottom simply earlier than the hour mark.
“I noticed it, and thought, ‘that is what Tadhg Beirne would do’, so I simply did what he’d do!” Baird mentioned. “I’m not taking credit score there, I simply copied him!”
Baird was speaking on the aspect of the pitch simply minutes after the Eire squad had lifted the Six Nations trophy.
“Simply attempting to sink it in in the intervening time, it’s a bit surreal,” he continued. “You come off the pitch and simply consider the work you’ve finished over the past two or three years, and the way it accumulates to a efficiency.
“Our first-half efficiency, we weren’t completely satisfied after we got here in however second half we put our foot down and we executed on a few performs.
It’s simply surreal, all of the work you place in and to return and truly do it… It’s going to take some time to sink in, I’m attempting to soak the environment now, I’m going to go see my household, my associates, I’m going to have a superb evening.
“I solely met somebody in The Shelbourne the opposite day who I went to highschool with in Excessive Faculty. I don’t keep in mind, however he mentioned I used to be all the time saying I’d be right here, and to suppose at some point you possibly can be right here with this bunch of lads, it’s very particular, you realize?”
Baird was first capped in the course of the 2021 Six Nations and though he can play in each the second and again rows he’s needed to be affected person, with Andy Farrell not precisely quick on depth in both departments.
The 23-year-old admitted to feeling a some pre-game nerves forward of what was the largest day of his younger profession up to now.
“I used to be fairly nervous, however everybody was nervous, however we focus a lot on staying within the current and specializing in the following second and that’s all I attempted to do. There have been photographs popping in of lifting the trophy, however I simply needed to hold coming again to the current.
“It was talked about all week, how we take care of the massive moments, however I by no means performed in certainly one of these huge video games, so for me to return out and expertise and take a look at ship my finest for the crew was an actual particular problem.
“First half I may have finished higher, however the second half I actually felt I dug in. That turnover was an accumulation of exhausting work I felt, and to place it in place for the boys to maul it, after which Sheeno (Dan Sheehan) ending that unbelievable attempt was particular.”
Naturally, ideas will now flip in the direction of the World Cup later this 12 months. Pretty much as good as Andy Farrell’s aspect have been over the previous 12 months, there’s a feeling there may nonetheless be extra to return.
“We will use this, we will undoubtedly use this however now it’s nearly having fun with the second. I’ve by no means gained a Grand Slam earlier than, so I’m not going to consider something additional than the following 10 minutes.”
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