The return of the String

HE described the moment of his recall yesterday as akin to his first cap — the same tingles and shivers he experienced the week of his first cap against Scotland in 2000.

Saturday will mark only Peter Stringer’s second start in Ireland’s last 16 tests, a run of games stretching back to that critical career-changing moment when dropped, or as many felt at the time, scape-goated in the aftermath of the Georgia debacle at the Rugby World Cup in September 2007.

The 31-year-old admits to experiencing low points over the last two years when, as he puts it, his whole world was rocked. Returning from France, he did retain the Munster number nine shirt until Tomás O’Leary replaced him for the knock-out stages of the 2008 Heineken Cup. And since then he has played bit parts behind his provincial colleague for both Munster and Ireland.

He last started a game for his country in Australia last summer, but scrum-half has become a volatile position at national level since September 2007. Eoin Reddan replaced Stringer in France, O’Leary then took over last November, and now Stringer, who’d never been too far from a matchday 22, comes in for his Munster colleague for the visit to Murrayfield.

“Obviously at the start (since Georgia match) it was very difficult because I found myself in a position I hadn’t been used to,” recalled the 87-times capped Cork man.

“It’s fair to say my whole world was rocked but I think you come to terms with it. You go back to what you know best, and to what I’ve done since I was a kid. I re-focused and regrouped and just continued to work hard. I just kept my head down and haven’t said much. But it’s just good to be back.”

It has been difficult to force his way into Declan Kidney’s team, given the unique situation that the man ahead of him at Ireland is also keeping him out of the Munster team.

“I haven’t got as much time with Munster as I would have liked,” he admits. “But I still feel I have a lot to offer. I have a lot of improvements to make. I will never be the full player and I fully admit that. But it was difficult when most guys get to play at club level and are then competing for an international spot, when you’re not getting game time it is frustrating. “I certainly missed it when I was out of it. And it really hits home that your next game for Ireland or for Munster could be your last. It’s about cherishing every opportunity you get.”

Criticised for not being physical enough, those who examined his last two outings for Munster against Edinburgh and Dragons would care to differ. His tackling has never been better.

“I’ve always tried to work on different elements. Maybe when you’re not getting as much game-time, you can work on other areas whether it be in the gym or whether it be different things that you’re not so comfortable with and not so good at. That’s an approach I’ve always taken whether it be starting or whether number three or number four choice — it’s always the same.”

He says he thought a lot about the idea that perhaps he had become too comfortable over the first 10 years, though he could not be accused of complacency.

“I’ve thought about this a lot. When I got back to the root of everything after the World Cup, certainly there were times. You’re playing for 10 years and it’s quite difficult to be 100% professional every single time for 10 years but I’ve tried to stick at the approach.

“If I’m in possession there’s always another guy sitting on the bench ready to take my position and I’ve become fully aware of that, even more so in the last couple of years.”

Described by many as the ultimate professional, he sought root-and-branch analysis of his game when losing his place for club and country. Open and frank discussions with all his coaches was something he admits he hadn’t done in previous years, although then he was a first-teamer and never really had to question his abilities. His dad, as always, was his best critic.

“It was just about that and hearing about those guys around you who are closest to you and you respect. My parents as well, especially my dad, would tell after a game whether things go well or not. I’d know inside in my own gut whether things went well or not, but he’d be an honest guy who’d tell me straight up, and he’s the guy I’d respect the most out of everyone.

“Being able to talk about things like that in times like that it can go either way — you can be gone and never to be seen again.”

Being told he was in yesterday morning was emotional, even the small things gave him the goose-bumps once more again. “Even when we received our tickets, it said player number nine as opposed to player number 20 and yeah, shivers come back again.

“It means a hell of a lot to be a part of it again.”