Nathan Doak goes one better than dad Neil and gets debut off bench
Nathan Doak made his debut for Ireland and, holding to tradition, had to sing a song, choosing Robbie Williams ballad 'Angels', afterwards.Given his family's rugby back story, his uncapped father Neil being brought to the 2003 Rugby World Cup and, sitting on the bench just once, was never used. Perhaps Redemption song would have been a better tune.Indeed Nathan didn't get to come on to the pitch once on Friday night, he got to do it TWICE, firstly as an HIA replacement for Jamison Gibson-Park in the second quarter and then in his own right near the close.One run on for him and one for his pop - sorta!"My dad has helped me throughout my whole career, been a sounding board for me, but I know he'd be delighted so he will," said Nathan afterwards."He told me just to relax this week, be myself, and remember that I deserve to be there."Nathan was first called on after 23 minutes following JGP being sent for a HIA: "I don't actually think that's happened to me before."But, because it was so quick you don't have time to think so it was actually quite a nice thing as well. It also makes it easier coming on the second time. It all helps settle nerves."On reflection, the biggest thing for me was just I wanted to be myself, and I was probably thinking about how I feel out there and I felt really calm."The biggest takeaway I'll have is that I want to play at this level and have the confidence to play at this level so I'll go back and have a look at this game and see where I can get better."It was a good week for an Ulster player to make an Ireland debut. There was a recent-time record of five Ulster players in the starting team with two more on the bench."It's class, all the lads have made me feel very at home throughout the whole week, through the last four or five weeks or so. It's really easy to fit in here and be yourself."I think there is a stat during the week that there were no Ulster players in the last Wales game, to having seven for this one."The work that we're putting in up there and that we're desperate to come and play for the green jersey, because that's where all our aspirations are."Doak only turned 24 last December but he is one of Ulster's most capped players - it just the international call-up seemed to be taking it's time with Andy Farrell joking the scrum-half was 'desperate' to get out there."No, I don't think desperate is the right word. I think every player wants to play for Ireland - I have a hundred caps in the URC, so I'm well experienced and I have had to wait my time."But I have had to get better at my game to deserve a shot. I feel like this is the right time for me, now I feel like I'm playing my best rugby with the minute, so that was quite fitting."I suppose, yeah, when you've been around quite a bit, at such a young age, you're just eager to get in there, because that's where your aspirations are."But, at the same time, Ulster have to be playing well, and you have to be at the forefront of that to get in here because it's not easy to play for Ireland."They've been the best team in the world, it's kind of showing that Ulster are doing well, and we're reaping the benefits of that, that we're finally getting a chance in here.Meanwhile the son can say he has gone a step further than dad albeit Nathan isn't anywhere near the bragging rights due Neil (32 Ireland caps 1993-2000, 31 wkts, 479 runs) in cricket.Famously Doak caught and bowled the then world's greatest cricketer Brian Lara for nine runs with just his second delivery in a 1995 game against West Indies at Clontarf.Says Junior: "I did play, I played for Ireland up until maybe under 19s, so I kind of did both sports, I was playing with Tim Tector, him and his brothers Jack and Harry and sister Alice are doing really well for Ireland cricket."But I didn't go as far as my dad. Maybe when I retire with a few beers we will be having a back and forth about stuff but I definitely can't get Brian Lara out unless he comes back and starts playing cricket!"Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond
