James Lowe's timing proves immaculate as Six Nations looms

If the disappointment of last year’s thwarted tilt at the Webb Ellis still lingers with Lowe, then the prospect of a Friday night Six Nations opener should shift it.

SMILING RETURNEE: James Lowe of Leinster dives over to score his side's first try during the Investec Champions Cup Pool 4 Round 3 match between against Stade Francais. Pic: Harry Murphy, Sportsfile

Players can eat, sleep and train like a true pro. They can avoid alcohol, skip family get-togethers and put in that extra 20 minutes in at the gym or in front of a screen, but there is ultimately no way of knowing when or how injury and a stint on the sidelines will strike.

If there is no ideal time to be restricted to sick bay then some parts of the calendar are preferable to others. An injury at the back end of a season that requires minor work and a rehab done in time for pre-season is about as good as bad gets.

James Lowe didn’t want to miss out on the first half of Leinster’s campaign but, when it comes to Ireland and his availability, the 31-year-old can have no complaints. Absent since the end of the World Cup, he returned last weekend against Stade Francais.

Just in time for the Six Nations.

With Mack Hansen and Jimmy O’Brien already ruled out for some time, and Keith Earls and Andrew Conway now retired, Andy Farrell was running lower than expected on wing options so the sight of Lowe scoring a try just 17 minutes in last Saturday was expeditious.

“Timing is everything in life, isn’t it? I was hoping to play the first round of Champions Cup but I re-tore a muscle in my foot and that put me back a little bit. Then the Ulster [New Year’s Day] game was probably where I felt near 100 percent. I was just off there. They made a call early on in the week to give me ten days between those two games.

“So yeah, I am absolutely stoked to be back playing rugby. You get to a stage where you actually start missing it. Watching the games on TV, even that La Rochelle game, you almost feel sick on the inside just watching it with nerves. It was awesome that the boys could go over there and get the win in horrific conditions. I’m glad to be back playing rugby, yeah.” 

All told he missed 13 weeks between that World Cup quarter-final exit to New Zealand and the bonus-point defeat of the Parisians at the Aviva Stadium so he will at least be well-rested as Leinster and Ireland approach the business end of the season.

There were a few weeks back home in New Zealand with his wife and child after the long stint in France and, if the disappointment of last year’s thwarted tilt at the Webb Ellis still lingers, then the prospect of a Friday night Six Nations opener should shift it.

“Yeah, ourselves and France were the two teams that came away from the World Cup bitterly disappointed. To have them round one in Marseille is very exciting for both sides and both probably with a little bit of a point to prove.” 

Lowe’s importance to the side will be pronounced even further with Hansen’s absence but the main focus on this latest iteration of an Ireland squad announced yesterday will fall on the man/men who assume the No.10 mantle from Johnny Sexton.

For those Ireland players from Munster, Ulster and Connacht these coming months will be their first experience of life without their long-time talisman and leader. Lowe and Leinster have already started to get their heads around that.

“It’s weird. It’s like you get divorced or something. He’s there but he’s not there. It’s sad, man, because obviously a huge chunk of his life has been here, helping the boys and driving standards, expecting the best of you day-in, day-out.

“So it’s weird not having him here but the sun keeps on coming up and people jump into different roles in the environment. I don’t think we have missed a beat since he has been gone, so yeah, it’s been good.” 

Plenty that is familiar remains.

Andrew Goodman, still Leinster’s attack coach, will take over that brief with Ireland after Mike Catt finishes up with the tour to South Africa in the summer and Lowe couldn’t be more enthused by the appointment.

Goodman is from the same town of Nelson back home. He was Lowe’s PE teacher in school at Nelson College and captain of Tasman as the younger man was breaking through. Goodman’s father was even Lowe’s rugby manager for a few years.

“I’m absolutely stoked to have seen him come to Leinster and thrive and then for the Irish boys to see that and for him to get the nod of approval is awesome. I wouldn’t say that he is following me around, but he is! Nah, he’s great, and it’s great to see.”