Bowe happy to put travel plans on back burner
Then there’s Tommy Bowe, who looks with envy at all those Irish guys around his own age (he’ll be 25 on February 22), who up sticks and head off on walkabout Down Under, not a care in the world.
The best Tommy could manage was to leave Ulster for the Ospreys.
“I’ve always wanted to get away; I’d love to be able to wander round the world, put on my backpack and take off for six or 12 months.
“You do get to see the world playing rugby, tours to Australia, New Zealand and so on, but that’s different. I just didn’t want to be stuck in Belfast (all my career); I know Wales isn’t exactly the other side of the world but this was a chance to meet new people, and play a style of rugby I enjoy.”
Perhaps when he retires he can take that trip, do what Denis Hickie did after he quit international rugby and just head off, into the wild blue yonder? “Yeah, fair dues to him, I would definitely consider that, but touch wood I have another few years in me. Who knows what’s going to happen, but for the minute I’m in Wales, that’s as far as I’ve planned.”
Ulster had become too comfortable for Bowe, and he needed a challenge.
“Yeah, that was one of the main things. You can’t fall into a comfort zone, and not being big-headed or anything but I was confident I’d be selected every game (for Ulster), provided my form didn’t drop too much.
“Now, having to bust your ass in training just to get selected, that was definitely a big kick for me. There was a lot of thought went into my move, it wasn’t something I took lightly.
“I talked to a lot of people, talked to Eddie (O’Sullivan, previous Ireland manager) before he moved on, try to make sure that moving didn’t hinder my international chances too much. An advantage was that the Ospreys play against the Irish provinces in the Magner’s League once every three or four games so there was plenty of opportunity for the Irish management to see me — that was a help.”
What did O’Sullivan say to him — did he try to discourage the move?
“The main point Eddie made was that moving to the Ospreys I might not get my game every week, because they had such a big squad, where I had been a regular starter in Ulster. That was something that was in my head, you had Nicky Walker there, a Scottish international, you had Shane Williams, Lee Byrne — world class backs, so there was no guarantee I was going to play every week.
“So far so good though, I’ve been playing full-back, centre, wing, something I’ve really enjoyed.”
It’s a move that has worked out: he’s been practically ever-present in the side, up there with the likes of Shane Williams, world player-of-the-year, for whom he has obvious respect.
“He’s a class act. For someone who’s not very big, he can leave you planted on your two feet, gone in a flash. It’s great for me to be able to talk with him, discuss wing play, give him my opinions, hear his, then learn from someone completely different again, like Nicky Walker. He’s 6’4”, doesn’t look as fast as Shane but he is, lightning quick. It’s great to have both ends of the spectrum.”
If all goes to plan for Tommy and for Ireland, they could meet Wales in the Millennium Stadium in a Grand Slam and Six Nations decider — has he discussed that with Williams?
“No, we’ll leave that to ye! There’s always a bit of banter there, but that’s parked at the back of the mind now.
“Of course, for me that would be the biggest game of the year, to come up against those boys over there, and beating them would be something else, as good as going to Thomond a few weeks later in the Heineken Cup quarter-final and beating Munster.!”
“But Italy is the number one priority at the minute. Against the Italians you can’t take anything for granted. They bring a new line speed, blitzers coming at you from everywhere.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to get ball in hand, get some opportunities — if we can get the sort of set-piece the forwards had at the weekend, it could be an exciting time for us as backs.”
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