One step at a time for Kilcoyne

Munster and Ireland prop David Kilcoyne is keeping his feet firmly on the ground and won’t entertain suggestions that he is already in Warren Gatland’s plans for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

Kilcoyne’s sights are instead focused on winning a place in the Irish team for the Six Nations championship, conscious that competition for the loose head spot is at a premium.

Kilcoyne, who starred in Munster’s Heineken Cup win over Racing Metro on Sunday, has been included in the squad for the Irish Wolfhounds clash with the English Saxons in Galway on Friday night.

“Obviously, every professional rugby player wants to be playing for their country, you’re probably in the wrong game if that’s not your overall goal,” he admitted yesterday.

The next step? “I want to try to make the starting team, or make it as competitive as possible and as tough a decision for the coaches as possible. Nothing more.

“I’m loving it at the moment. I just try and take it one game at a time. We have the Saxons now on Friday, that’s the next step and I’m just really looking forward to that game.”

Kilcoyne doesn’t underestimate the fierce competition to nail down astarting jersey with Cian Healy and Tom Court in the frame.

“Obviously they’re both very good players, they wouldn’t be there if they weren’t, but I would more just focus on myself and try to keep improving with the aim of giving the coaches a headache.”