Trimble keen to spread his wings
The forward slash between “centre” and “wing” that describes Trimble’s position on the Ireland team’s website cuts like a knife but not so deep that the 26-year-old Ulsterman would forego a place in Declan Kidney’s World Cup squad 10 months from now.
“You don’t want to be seen as (a utility back), but you want to be an option, for the bench as well,” Trimble said this week ahead of his 30th cap. “But then again, utility backs tend to play on the bench, which would be fairly disappointing.
“It’s an option and it’s good to have two strings to your bow, but I want to go after one position and get it right.”
Today, he does get that chance, starting on the wing against Samoa at the Aviva Stadium, and, like many others in the current squad, the centre/wing sees this second game of four autumn internationals as a chance to stake a more permanent claim for a starting berth, particularly having sat out last weekend’s loss to South Africa.
That one was watched from the stands as Ireland lost their opening Guinness Series autumn Test having been named in the matchday 22 as one of three possibilities for the final, utility back’s spot among the replacements. Trimble prepared for the game, as did Ulster team-mate Paddy Wallace, a fly-half/centre, and Munster’s Keith Earls, another centre/wing, only for the latter to get the nod on the eve of the match for the number 22 shirt.
“I’m really, really pleased and I can’t wait to get involved,” Trimble said of his selection for the Samoa game. “Last week was very frustrating. I was the 24th man, and you have to go through all the training and the warm-up and get your head right in case you play.
“Then you feel pretty empty at the end, it’s pretty disappointing. I’ve got my chance this week, I’ve done a good bit of hard work and I can’t wait to get involved.
“I hope to get my hands on the ball and just impose myself, and hopefully take an opportunity.”
Trimble’s bench appearances appear to be growing in frequency. In his first season in 2005-06, only one cap of eight was as a substitute, whereas last season the split was three starts and two as a sub. In between, he missed the Grand Slam campaign of 2009 completely having started every game in the 2008 Six Nations.
He is, though, refreshingly honest about the turn of events when asked about the current competition for places.
“In the past I maybe got a few caps when I wasn’t really playing that well. I think to get an opportunity and really nail a place you have to be playing out of your skin now.
“You have so many guys younger than me and they are all playing class rugby but that’s just the way it is. There is a lot of competition for places and you have to be playing unbelievably well to get a chance.
“You get out there and do everything you can to get a spot, and make the most of any opportunities that come your way.
“There are younger guys than me competing and guys who are starting ahead of me occasionally. But I don’t think that changes the way I play: I still want to get that place, whether they are younger or older.”
For now, it looks like Trimble’s best chance of securing that place is on the wing, what with Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll nailed on at outside centre. But nothing lasts forever and with O’Driscoll, a switch to No.12 is not beyond the realms of possibility, certainly beyond 2011, meaning a vacancy at 13. Does Trimble see himself back in midfield?
“I don’t give it an awful lot of thought, but I’m definitely aware I’ve played there in the past and I think I’d probably agree that that is where I’ve played my best rugby. I’ve been playing on the wing for a while now and I feel I’ve really warmed to that position.
“I know that role a lot better than I know the role of 13. I like the idea of being able to play a bit of both, but at the same time I don’t want to become a utility back. I want to nail that spot and get that right.”
Still, if Kidney offered him a choice of shirts, 11, 13 or 14, which one would he choose?
“Is Brian playing 13? Would I have to be captain if I was 13?” Trimble joked, before adding: “I don’t know, it depends on who else you are playing with. Paddy (Wallace), with so much skill, is a great guy to play 13 outside of. I’ve got a small bit of experience playing outside Paddy.
“But if the game loosens up, as it is likely to against Samoa, you get a bit more ball in your hand on the wing as well. Hopefully a kicking game might lead to some counter-attacking options, so it’s hard to know.
“Ideally you get more ball in your hand at 13, but it depends what way the game goes. For me, I just want to perform as much as possible.”
DECLAN KIDNEY insisted Ireland’s rugby team still enjoy huge support but the size of today’s attendance at the Aviva Stadium remained difficult to predict.
How much backing Ireland get from the public against Samoa is as open to debate as it was last week, despite tickets for today’s game having been bundled with the South Africa Test in a package that saw just a little more than 35,000 paying customers at the Aviva’s first rugby international last weekend.
That figure left some 15,000 seats empty but Kidney stuck to his philosophy that however many turn up, they will be rewarded with 100 per cent commitment.
“You work on the things you can control,” he said.
“There is a full series of AIL matches this Saturday but even if one person turns up to watch, our job is to play to the best of our ability for that one person.
“We’ve huge support still and there will be televisions watched, there’ll be analysis, people will be talking about it, reading articles. They look forward to watching us play and it would be brilliant if the stadium was full but if it’s just one person we’ll play to the best of our ability.”
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