Trimble: we’ll let rugby do the talking

LIKE many torn reputations that emerged from the car-wreck of the Rugby World Cup, Andrew Trimble’s was one in need of some repair.

Maligned for his defensive performance against France in Paris when a concentration lapse allowed Vincent Clerc score the crucial first try, Trimble’s journey to exorcise his own RWC demons was a tougher route than for those returning to Munster or Leinster.

A rot was setting in at Ulster, Mark McCall’s resignation in November after a lacklustre performance against Gloucester in the Heineken Cup effectively ended their hopes of qualification after one game. It was prelude to more forgettable results, including a 26-0 defeat to Leinster in the Magners League. But news of Matt Williams’ arrival in January seemed to shed some optimism that saw an upturn in performances, especially for Trimble.

The centre-cum-winger admits that the last five months have been the toughest in his short career.

But, at 23, the experience has proven to be career-building exercise.

“I think since September it probably was career-building. In my first year (2004) with Ulster we won the Celtic League and we just missed out on qualifying for the knockout stages in Europe.

“Last season was pretty successful as well. So it has been difficult, it has been tough, but I think it is something that every professional has to deal with at some stage. If I have to deal with it again, I’ll have that experience.”

And how did he deal with the World Cup fallout?

“There was a massive build up to the World Cup and it was extremely disappointing what happened. But we just have to be mentally tough. We have no other option. We have to say: ‘that’s it, it’s done, forget about it’ and we have to move through. We just had to roll up our sleeves and get on with it. It has not been fun not winning week in, week out. I’d like to think that it has built up my character a little bit and that it will bring me through in a similar situation at some other stage in my career.”

A devout Christian and theology student, who lives his life through the bible, Trimble doesn’t heed opinion writers and remains unshaken by the criticism following the World Cup.

“I would like to think that we are all professional. This is our job, this is something we’re doing because we’re good at it.

“Part of being a professional is being mentally tough and just saying, ‘that’s it, it’s (RWC) gone’.

“I don’t read the papers and I don’t want to be thinking too much about opinions. I just have to get on with it.

“I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses.”

2006 was a year when his strengths shone through. On top of being named Ulster’s player of the year, Trimble became a regular on the wing for Ireland that won a Triple Crown in dramatic fashion at Twickenham. An eye-catching performance and a try against New Zealand in the summer was followed by a tour de force against South Africa in the autumn series. But injury against the Springboks derailed Trimble’s season. Signs of the old Trimble were evident with tries against Scotland and Italy in the RWC warm-up games, but it didn’t happen for him in France.

“The World Cup was difficult and it didn’t go our way,” he remembers. “I think that is something that we have put behind us now.

“I only got to play in two games and we didn’t get the sort of ball we wanted, we didn’t get the patterns right.

“We’ve got to look at our form as individuals with our provinces over the last couple of months and aside from Ulster really, the form (of Munster and Leinster) has been really good. We have got to take confidence from that and personally — with Ulster in the last couple of European Cup matches — the likes of myself, Paddy and Rory can take confidence from better performances and hopefully bring that through in the Six Nations.”

There is a view Trimble is a more potent operator in the centre and his conversion to the wing diminishes his all-round game. But is he comfortable with his dual mandate – of being a centre for Ulster and a wing for Ireland?

“If you asked me that maybe two years ago, it would have been something I would have been a bit more concerned about, but I have 19 caps now and the majority of them are on the wing so certainly I’m used to it.

“I’ve probably played a bit more right than centre but it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other. I’m definitely looking forward to getting out there and I’d like to think I have enough confidence and ability to make that change.”

The transition, then, from World Cup under-achievers to Six Nations hopefuls is the Ireland squad’s next challenge. After a line was drawn through the RWC in a pre-Christmas get-together in Dublin, it appears they all have something to prove.

“Maybe we have been mentally building up for this a long time. Maybe that is the case; maybe some people don’t think the Six Nations is as big a deal as the World Cup but that’s not the case with us. The Six Nations is a massive opportunity for us and we’re all very excited about just getting started. We just want to get started and let our rugby do the talking for a change.”