Dream come true as Diack makes debut for Ireland

Robbie Diack says it will be a dream come true when he makes his international debut today six years after leaving his native South Africa to pursue a rugby career in Ireland.

The 28-year old had doubts this day would come when he qualified for Ireland three years ago but never got a call-up to any extended squads. He credits the arrival of Mark Anscombe in Ulster with his change in fortunes and intends to make the most of the chance handed him by Joe Schmidt.

“I’ve always had a dream to play international rugby from when I was a youngster and when I had the opportunity to come and play for Ulster, I knew it would take three years to be Irish qualified and from that point I had a dream. After my three years came up I didn’t have the greatest run. That was a bit of a dark stage there, but Mark Anscombe came to Ulster and started giving me the opportunity and I started gaining more confidence in my own game, in myself. Playing week in, week out helped massively and from there it started building and building and I got more game time. Now I am relishing this opportunity and this moment.”

The good wishes have been coming all week from Johannesburg and elsewhere in South Africa but he has no regrets about pledging his future to Ireland and not the Springboks.

“I think I’ve worked hard for Ulster over the last couple of years, I’ve given it all. I am looking forward to this moment and, having got the opportunity, I just want to make it count. There’s a lot of pressure, but I mean I have looked so forward to this moment that while I’m sure the 80 minutes is going to go quickly.

”I’m going to do the best I can and make sure I don’t make this a once-off occasion.”