NATHAN Doak’s goals for the rest of the season are simple - help Ulster win their first trophy since 2006 and try and force his way into Andy Farrell’s World Cup squad.
Ulster have three regular season United Rugby Championship games remaining and have qualified for the quarters, guaranteeing at least one knockout game domestically while next Saturday they travel to Dublin for a Champions Cup last 16 clash with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.
Doak was part of the Emerging Ireland side that won all three games in South Africa during September and October and was also called into camp for the Ireland A game in November.
“Going down earlier in the season I got a taste for it and we were chatting in the house with some of the guys as to how good it would be to be a part of that, it’s definitely a big motivation to keep playing well and trying to get better so you can be a part of that,” said Doak.
“If Ulster are going well players will hopefully be putting up their hands for Irish jerseys.
“If the team’s not going well and guys aren’t playing well, and Leinster and Munster are playing good rugby as well as Connacht who are coming good there are always those putting their hands up there.
“I think everyone wants that, they want competition for places and maybe that’s reflected in how Ireland are doing so well. I’ve spoken to Faz (Andy Farrell, right) before, and I know what I need in my game to try and push. I’m really enjoying my time at Ulster and I feel I’ve really pushed on and hopefully coming into the back end of the season I can keep doing that.
“There are three really good scrum-halves there and Caolin Blade who’s been in and out so there’s really good competition there.
“I’m just really focused on trying to do my best with Ulster and I can’t control any of that Irish stuff, so I want to try and do my best here.”
With coaches only allowed to name a 33-man squad for the World Cup, Doak’s ability to play both scrum half and out half could be a big advantage.
“There are good nines and 10s down there, but I enjoy playing both and if I get down there, I’ll give both a go to see if I can learn anything,” he said.
“I know from being down there in the Ireland A stuff just how they work stuff at 10, it was really interesting and something that really interested me so bringing it back here when I got an opportunity to play 10 it was nice to implement that.
“I enjoy doing both and am interested in both.”
Before getting selected for Ireland Doak needs to win the battle for the Ulster scrum half starting berth with John Cooney.
The 21-year-old has started five of the last six games and was man of the match in the victory over Cardiff last time out - and he relishes the fight with his mate Cooney.
He said: “It is a bit strange as me and John are really good mates. It’s new to me as I haven’t had competition at this level before and to be so close to someone with that, I don’t know about him but I don’t look at it as competition - I always feel like he’s trying to help me no matter what.”
He added: “Hopefully I’m trying to do the same for him and it’s really good for both of us. Obviously both getting man of the match at scrum half is really good competition and hopefully brings the best out of us.”
BKT UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
Friday Zebre v Cardiff (7.10pm); Leinster v Stormers (7.35pm)
Saturday Ospreys v Dragons (1pm); Benetton v Lions (1pm); Connacht v Edinburgh (3pm); Scarlets v Sharks (5pm); Munster v Glasgow Warriors (5.15pm); Ulster v Bulls (7.35pm)