Ireland's latest international Jack Boyle is thankful to senior props Cian Healy and Andrew Porter but wants to push his own claims for a starting berth.
The 22-year-old made his Test debut off the bench in round three of the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday, coming on for Porter for the final 10 minutes of Ireland's 27-18 win over Wales.
Boyle has moved quickly up the ranks, with just 18 Leinster appearances to his name since making his professional bow in February 2023.
Regular starter Porter and elder statesman Healy are ahead of him in the pecking order, but after getting his first taste of international rugby, Boyle is hungry for more.
"There's two unbelievable players and people ahead of me, Andrew Porter and Cian Healy," said Boyle, who put in four tackles and helped to win a crucial scrum penalty.
"Cian Healy presented me with my cap, it was unbelievably special. I knew I’d have to bide my time, be patient. I know I need to keep improving.
"It gives me a taster of what it’s like to play for Ireland, it only makes you hungry in the end. They’ve been a massive, massive influence.
"I suppose when I came into the set-up two or three years ago, it was not only Church [Healy] and Porter, but Tadhg Furlong as well.
"They’ve all been unbelievable people to me first and foremost; helping me off the pitch, making sure I have everything aligned so you can perform in training and perform if you get an opportunity.
"But look, it’s the small things really, it’s more so be yourself and enjoy the environment. Don’t be in yourself and don’t go into your shell.
"You need to express yourself as well. That was probably the main point from all of them.
"I suppose I’d always back myself. I always expected myself to be playing the big games, playing in Europe with Leinster and I suppose playing well in the Principality here in the Six Nations.
"It’s a mix of respecting the lads ahead of you.
"Church has obviously been an unbelievable player and servant, and Andrew Porter, one of the best in the world.
"So it’s a balance of learning off them but at the same time competing and putting your best foot forward to get a spot really."
Asked about the scrum penalty, Boyle revealed he had been analysing the set-piece with Healy before making his entrance.
He said: "It was brilliant actually, yeah. Church and I were having a few conversations on the sideline and thankfully his 20 years of experience and expertise came off."
Barring injury, Healy will most likely return to the Ireland squad for Saturday week's round-four clash against France, which is set up to be a championship decider.
The prop, Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray are set to play their final home games in the Aviva Stadium against Les Bleus.
However, there's also the possibility Boyle could pack down against Leinster team-mate Rabah Slimani, who is in the wider France squad.
"It would be a bit of a surreal feeling considering we’ve won a few penalties together. Look, we’ll see," he said.
"I was actually texting him during the week telling him I was on the bench, and he was over the moon.
"We were rooming together over in Swansea last week against the Ospreys. He had his fingers crossed for me and thankfully it played out in the end."
Dubliner Boyle was presented with his first cap by Healy last Thursday and sang the Wild Rover as his party piece after the game.
"It’s an incredible buzz," he added. "It’s a different feeling; 80,000 and the whole country behind you.
"It’s a special feeling. You can’t really put it into words. I’ve played in big matches like Bristol in the Heineken Cup but nothing really prepares you for this, in the Principality.
"I suppose the pace of play increases a small bit but ultimately, it’s the same game. With the lads around me and the coaches it’s the same game and do your thing.
"Any young lad in Ireland, in the position I was in anyway, strives to play for Ireland. So many people come up short, but I’m incredibly grateful and lucky to get there in the end.
"The anthem was quite emotional, the lid closed at the Principality.
"That got to me a good bit, but it was unbelievably enjoyable. Even coming on there for 8-10 minutes, the want that everybody had, the ruthlessness and the level that people get to.
"There’s a lot of thanks I’ve to give to coaches, to family and friends, coaches along the way, all the sacrifices they’ve made."
