No trace of bitterness - maturity offers a different perspective on the events which followed Ireland's embarrassing defeat by Western Samoa at Lansdowne Road in 1996. Simon Mason concedes that hindsight offers only a sense of disappointment at the way his international career came to an abrupt halt.

He had had two Five Nations Championship appearances, the first a victory against Wales and the second defeat against England at Twickenham with the full back kicking four penalties from as many opportunities. For the Merseyside-born student his career was in the ascendant, culminating in a move to the then Allied Dunbar Division Two club Richmond.

The Samoan match was nothing short of a calamity. Several players suffered for 80 minutes but none were to suffer the eternal damnation that appeared to befall Mason. "Nobody needed to tell me that I had a bad game, particularly in defence, but I was surprised with the vehemence with which I was attacked in some quarters.

"I played poorly and was never considered again. Murray (Kidd) decided to look elsewhere. As quickly as I had been pushed into the spotlight, I was thrown back into obscurity. I knew that my fate was sealed in that respect when the Italy match came around and I had an excellent game for Richmond against Sale in the lead-up. There was no call.

"At the time Richmond were in Division Two but we were doing well," he says. Mason finished as top points scorer in all divisions that season but still found that the club had gone out and signed Australian full back Matt Pini. "I suppose I was a little resentful in that my kicking had helped to get them back into Division One and then I was just jettisoned to the seconds.

"I knew that as far as representative honours were concerned I was going to have to initiate serious changes to my position. So when the opportunity came via the IRFU to play in Ireland I had no qualms about moving here. I had stayed friends with David Humphreys and Jonathan Bell and so pursued the Ulster option.

"On the club front, I initially leaned towards working with Willie Anderson whom I admired and heard so much about, but I also wanted to be exposed to the top level and the opportunity to play regularly against the best teams, in matches at which selectors would be present. That is why I chose Ballymena.

"Moving to Ireland was not done on a whim. When I joined Richmond it was on a lucrative contract thanks to my position then as an Irish international and in terms of contracts I took a significant pay reduction when I decided to pursue my future with Ballymena and Ulster."

Mason is aware of the whispers, accusations about his speed and tackling. "I have worked hard on the deficiencies within my game. My physical presence in defence has improved, I am more aggressive in the tackle while I have got a little faster. I'm not going to break any speed records, but I am quicker."

One facet of his game about which there is no quibbling is Mason's place kicking: 188 points in all matches for the province this season to date have underpinned Ulster's success in the European Cup and taken them to the threshold of fantasy.

Victory over Toulouse at Ravenhill tonight would guarantee a place in the semi-finals and an unequalled place in the proud history and tradition of the province. If those realms are to be broached then Mason is guaranteed to have a significant input.

The importance of the occasion will not phase the 25-year-old full back: "Place kicking is about confidence. Each kick gets easier with every success. I am not into the theory of technique, or kicking gurus. I have a simple routine and stick to that. You only start to worry about the mechanics when you start missing.

"Growing up on Merseyside I played a lot of soccer, so when it came to rugby and kicking a ball between the posts then I was first to grab the ball. I am looking forward to this match. We have no inferiority complex, there is a genuine belief in the team.

"On a personal level I am relaxed, enjoying my rugby and life off the pitch. I did not come to Ireland to make up the numbers. I still believe that I have something to offer."