McCloskey comfortable being Ireland’s elder statesman

His world changed drastically when Stuart McCloskey last represented Ireland in Georgia ten years ago.

He joined the Emerging Ireland squad for the now-defunct Tbilisi Cup in 2015 after earning Ulster’s young player of the year award at the end of his first full season of senior rugby.

McCloskey, who was 22 years old, admits to being “pretty naive.” He now has “a few more grey hairs” and “knows what I’m about these days” with almost ten years of experience in the test field and over 200 Ulster caps.

This is accurate. McCloskey can demonstrate that he is comfortable in his own skin even in a press conference setting.

Finlay Bealham is the elder statesmen in interim head coach Paul O’Connell’s Ireland squad because of his call-up to the British and Irish Lions.

He jokes that Bealham “absolutely did me in” and acknowledges that O’Connell “gets a dig in most days about my age,” but he seems content to be the only squadron player to have celebrated his 30-year anniversary.

He also enjoys promising to outlive Ulster teammates Nick Timoney and Jacob Stockdale.

McCloskey, who turns 33 in August, describes himself as “happy to be the calm head.”

There are plenty of guys there like Craig Casey and Sam Prendergast, who have run the backline very well over the past few weeks in here, despite the fact that that’s typically what I’m playing in these teams no matter who is playing around me.

With tries in victories over Japan and the United States, McCloskey bolstered his case for a starting spot in Ireland during the final Lions tour in 2021.

Without any fault of his own, it hasn’t quite worked out that way, but 19 caps, in addition to those of Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, and Garry Ringrose, make a strong comeback for a player who was denied admission to Ulster’s academy after graduating from Bangor Grammar.

He claims, “I don’t believe I’m doing a lot wrong.”

You could argue that Robbie would have been away as well if he hadn’t been hurt because I don’t think I’m too far off it because I think when I’ve played, I’ve gone well.

What can I improve, exactly? I believe I have the majority of the attack skills, but I need to improve a few things, perhaps a little more physicality in defense.

In Saturday’s Test against Georgia, McCloskey is expected to play midfield with Jamie Osborne, whose last appearance for Ireland was against Italy in February 2024.

Osborne, 23, is regarded as one of Ireland’s most adaptable players. In the Six Nations this year, he started at full-back and right-wing against Wales and France. He can play either inside or outside the center.

Jamie has been fantastic. He fits into almost any position fairly well, according to McCloskey.

“He’ll do a great job if you can play him anywhere over the backline.” The last few days have been a good combination for us.

He is physically strong, has all the attributes you would want from a rugby player, and is also physically strong. Over the next ten years, I’m confident that he will continue to win more caps.

Before the glittering autumn schedule that includes Ireland’s rematch against the All Blacks in Chicago and a home Test against double world champions South Africa, McCloskey wants to use the Georgia and Portugal games to stake his claim.

That means impressing O’Connell, who he faced in the old Pro12 era.

The biggest B team of all time was eliminated because it was a dead rubber at the end of the season and Munster’s best team was eliminated, according to McCloskey, who recalls Ulster’s 19-17 win at Thomond Park in May 2014.

I’m very fond of it, I recall. It was back in the Pro12 days and we won, I believe it was my fourth cap when Michael Heaney scored a try while they were trying to go to second and we were fourth.

When the towering Irish icon reveals McCloskey’s age to O’Connell, perhaps he mentions it?