The first time Richie Murphy saw James McNabney in action, he knew there was something special about him.
It was in an U19 inter-pro between Leinster and Ulster at Donnybrook and Murphy was there running his eye over players as part of his brief as the Ireland under 20′s head coach.
Early on in the game came an Ulster try. But it wasn’t just any ordinary try. It came from a 40-metre run from their number eight.
Murphy’s immediate response was, ‘who’s that guy?’. And the rest, as they say, is history.
After playing a pivotal role under Murphy in helping Ireland to back-to-back U20 Grand Slams, McNabney continues to repay the faith put in him by Murphy at club level.
In this his breakthrough season, McNabney has yet to take a backward step.
After delivering some eye-catching performances in South Africa at the start of the season, McNabney continues to prove he’s one for the future.
Last time out against Connacht, the 21-year-old Ballymoney man was narrowly beat at the post for player of the match by Nick Timoney.
Despite playing a pivotal role in Ulster’s first win in five outings, the modest McNabney was quick to praise the team effort and particularly the roles of his fellow backrowers in the victory.
“Nick was very good; he played well. Matty Rea was pretty strong,” confessed McNabney.
“I got a good few opportunities with the ball. They came to me at just the right time. The back row fronted up well but as a team, I think we were on it.”
Despite impressing early on in the season, McNabney found himself facing a spell on the sidelines and his action was confined to lining out for City of Armagh in the All-Ireland league.
After thinking he was under a curse, McNabney was keen to make sure that when he got back in, it would be for the long haul.
“Last year I played three games and I done alright. This year I had a run of games, three games at the start, and I thought I had a three-game curse.
“But when I got back in, I went to different coaches and was like when I get in how do I stay in? And Jimmy Duffy gave me great feedback. If you do your job and do your job well, there’s no reason why they’ll not pick you.
“And another aspect that I like to pride myself on is that I like to get over the gain line. If I get them front foot ball then there’s no reason why they’ll not pick me.”
This weekend McNabney is preparing for another huge challenge against Leicester. But the young number eight prepares to focus on number one rather than the opposition.
“To be honest, I don’t know a whole lot about them. I tend to not look into them too much and I think that probably stands me to good stead.
“I don’t give them the respect they probably deserve.”
