Nick Timoney: 'There were times I was fairly sure I wouldn't play for Ireland again'

Timoney was electric off the pine when Ireland found some belated rhythm in Paris on opening night, not quite so influential when introduced against Italy at home, but impactful third time around in the away win over England.

Nick Timoney thought his window had closed. Why would he think any differently?

His third cap had been earned in November of 2022 when a much-changed Ireland team stuttered to what Andy Farrell had labelled a “pretty underwhelming” win against Fiji in Dublin.