Fitzgerald fit and raring to fight for his place

GETTING dropped was a new experience for Luke Fitzgerald last season and it’s not one he wants to repeat.

Injury and a loss of form meant that the irrepressible rise of the 23-year-old was halted and he lost his place in the Ireland team for the win over England.

Long-tipped for greatness, the winger cum full-back has been rising through the ranks for years but the setback appears to have only increased his will to prove himself on the world stage this summer.

And having finished last season strongly, Fitzgerald is keen to put the past to bed.

“It was the first time I’d been dropped by Deccie so I was very disappointed at it and it was a big shock to me,” he said.

“So even though you are aware that you might not be playing your best rugby you’re still expecting to get into the team next week so you can make up for it.

“Look, it was disappointing last year and I’ll talk about it briefly now during pre-World Cup but I don’t want to talk about it afterwards, I think just move on from it. I finished the season strong and hopefully Deccie knows that and I’ll train hard and try to impress him and get back in the team.

“I play my best rugby when I’m relaxed and just confident in my ability. I’ve settled down now, played some good stuff and I’m confident in my ability in the two last games of the season so I’ve a bit of momentum.”

At 19, Fitzgerald trained with the squad ahead of the last World Cup but few pundits expected him to make the final cut.

But when the cull came and Eddie O’Sullivan left him out of the 45 it came as a huge shock to the youngster whose self-belief is hard to shake.

“I wanted to go to that World Cup, I was very disappointed that I didn’t. I actually got chopped from the 45 which I was pretty amazed at but these things happen. It was so disappointing at the time,” he said.

“It’s where you want to be though, everyone’s going to be training solely for that and preparing solely for that for the last six or seven months.

“I know there’s Heineken Cup and things like that but in the back of your mind you know this is a World Cup year. I know everyone’s thinking that way, you just know everyone’s mindset and everyone wants to do their best at that World Cup because it’s the pinnacle.

“I think if I get to go I’ll be really excited. I think the competitive environment under pressure, it’s where you want to be, that’s what we play sports for – to get to the highest level. If I get to go I’ll be really excited and hopefully we go well out there.”

“The competition’s pretty intense. I feel very strong, I’m getting stronger in the fitness sessions and in the weight room so I feel good.

“Last year was definitely a struggle when I got dropped, I struggled for form and confidence. I think I got that together in the last couple of games, I played well in the two finals.”