Stringer adapts to second fiddle role

IT HASN’T been easy, but Peter Stringer is learning to live with the fact he is not first choice scrum-half for either Munster or Ireland. And the competitive Stringer admits it hurt badly when he was leap-frogged by Tomás O’Leary after years in the driving seat.

But while his competitive edge has not been blunted, Ireland’s most capped scrum-half has a new perspective and now sees any game time as an opportunity. “In the last number of months, I have focused on any chance at all, the 10, 20 or 30 minutes I might get. It’s still special for me to run onto the pitch and I’m thankful to get the chance.”

Stringer played more than just a cameo role in last year’s Grand Slam triumph, starting against Scotland when he won the man-of-the-match award after creating a crucial try for Jamie Heaslip, and finishing in Wales by providing the last-minute pass that allowed Ronan O’Gara the opportunity to drop the winning goal.