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WING HOPE: Ulster's Robert Baloucoune scoring against Northampton Saints in Europe. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

It's not so long ago there were sniggers at the back of the room when Jules Favre said he had a dream to be part of France’s World Cup squad in 2023. Those with small minds and a smaller mindset said he was a snail going nowhere fast.

Jules wasn’t listening. He had his head down and was too busy working his ass off. He did his extras after training at La Rochelle, showed a brilliant attitude, studied his videos and pledged to get better. Last season when Levani Botia was suspended, we felt he had done enough to get his start in the centre. Against Racing 92 in the Top 14 semi-final in Lille, he didn’t just get stuck into Finn Russell, Gael Fickou and Virimi Vakatawa. He went after them with the same relentless determination he has gone after his dream to play for France.