Eric Miller leans back against the rail and stares into Lansdowne's groaning West Stand. The scars of his back-row profession ruggedly complimenting an unshaven face, the beads of sweat from the shower room still clinging to the roots of his hair, he is decidedly relaxed.

In the warm autumn air, Ireland's chosen blindside flanker is pleased to talk and to announce that the Miller of this week's match against Wales is a better model than the callow player who travelled to South Africa with the Lions in 1997. He is pleased because Ireland have back rows of quality spread around the provinces like autumn leaves and Warren Gatland has pointed to him.

Miller, the dazzling ball carrier, the footballer of Irish rugby, has decided to fit himself into a different mould, the modern one.

He has had to.

"The defensive part of my game is getting better. I'm getting my hands on the ball more, getting in better positions. I think in the past I was known as a ball-carrier, now I think I've a better all-round game. With age I'm a lot stronger and the roles are more set now. There is less space to run."

Considered strong enough and experienced enough to play for the Lions as a 21-year-old, Miller has had to make plenty of adjustments in his physical game and in his head. The initial promise of that '97 tour quickly morphed into a nightmare few weeks of illness and injury.

That was over four years ago and although he has always been around, too often for his innate talent, he has not been visible.

This time last year he played against the touring South African side and felt he had not let himself down. The Six Nations tournament was on the horizon.

"I was playing solid up to Christmas last year and played in the last international against South Africa. Then I got a thumb injury in January. That really was the worst timing because I'd two European games and maybe I would have been in with a shout for the (Six Nations) internationals," he says.

"I did my best when I came back and threw my hat into (the ring for) this year's Lions Tour but I always knew I'd be up against it. What I had at that stage of the season . . . it would have taken a bit of luck for me to get picked. When I look back now at the injuries in the (Lions) back-row, I'm more disappointed."

At the end of last season Miller towered above his team-mates with his impact and class. Man of the Match? Eh, give it to Miller. This year for Leinster his performances provocatively reminded Gatland of just how good a player he is. In giving him a chance the Irish coach has not gone out on a limb.

"In '97 I was young and everything was going for me and no one really knew who I was, so that was an advantage. There is a lot of baggage there with injuries and stuff over the years. But I've gotta carry that on my back. I'm 26 now. I'm more mature."

He understands how windows of opportunity can open and close.

"I've had a staggered Irish career. A lot of times I've been on the bench over the last few years. I haven't had many starts. The last full game was against Romania and I thought I'd a reasonably good game."

Enough second comings. Last year was Miller's first second coming, but it was ruined by injury. This week may be his second.

The less pack-mule and more thoroughbred environment of the provincial set-up has suited him and has allowed him draw on a little irony. In being able to breathe more between matches he has become a more dogged opponent, a better team player.

"I'd be coming from the mindset that I've just got to go out and play my game.

" Most of us have been coming off provincial winning teams and that's why people can't understand the Scotland game," he says.

"If we put ourselves under pressure we're more likely to think of the result rather than the process.

"This time we've got to make sure everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet. I think we have the talent to win."

Hallelujah to that.