JOHNNY WATTERSONfinds the bust-a-gut Ulster man out to translate top form for his province into a regular start in the green shirt

ANDREW Trimble’s green world is a good world. The Ulster man has swirled around the Irish team, sometimes falling in and at other times out. At this stage of knowing the realities of professional life the winger counts any Irish shirt as another triumph.

If Declan Kidney says it fits, he’ll wear it. Playing on the wing, that’s great. If it is outside centre – there were people putting his name up for the 13 shirt – that’s fantastic too, thank you.

“It would have been something that would have surprised me because I haven’t played there that much,” he says of outside centre. “But definitely, as far as I am concerned, I just want to get on the pitch and play as much rugby as I can. I don’t care what number is on my back. I just want to play.”

Trimble’s honesty, his willingness to accept physical challenges and bust-a-gut attitude are endearing. His physical all-round game brings its own gifts and while critics may point to his kicking, an occasional lack of soft hands or nuanced touch to his play, his other qualities are raw-boned impressive.

Kidney could have done so much with his backs’ talent but with Tommy Bowe and Trimble, even Trimble on his least favourite left bookend, Ireland’s backline has a physical presence, an immeasurable sturdiness.

“Well, I prefer the right, but I don’t really mind,” he says. “You’re playing in a green shirt and you don’t care what the number is.”

For Ulster he has been central but even in the run in to last year’s World Cup, his rollicking best wasn’t quite enough for Kidney to haul him into regular first team selection.

Over the years the Evangelical Christian has injected an aggression to his play and has begun to chase games instead of standing on the periphery in the often thin hope the centres will bring him into the game.

With confidence from Ulster’s two seasons of qualification for the Heineken Cup knockout stages, he may cut a quietly-spoken, placid figure in the team hotel at Carton House and talk about the recent golf lesson but Trimble doesn’t mind appropriately milling in or swinging an occasional body in to the hoarding.

His last match on the left wing was against Russia in the World Cup and before that the final game of the 2011 Six Nations Championship.

“The last six months I’ve felt like I’ve been playing quite well, enjoying my rugby. I’ve felt confident,” he says. “I’ve been banging the door trying to get starts. I think if you look back and you haven’t been given an opportunity you can complain and moan and let on it’s not your fault. But if you get an opportunity and don’t take it you’ve got nobody else to blame. That’s why this weekend I want to get out there and perform as well as I’ve been playing in a white shirt.”

Players often look to their clubs for inspiration and security. Transferring the camaraderie, the bonds and the form becomes part of the process of stepping across to Ireland. Kidney’s team is inextricably linked to Brian McLaughlin’s side. In the green shirt there is white as well as blue and red. Those links are powerful.

“For me playing with Ulster, we’re trying to play an expansive game, put teams under pressure. Our phase play has come on in leaps and bounds in the last sort of three months. We’re really pleased with where we’re going and that sort of game-plan, that sort of structure and that pattern suits me.

“I just want to get into the game and get my hands on the ball and run hard at people, look to find holes and that’s worked quite well for me so far.

“Sometimes it’s quite difficult and with the new set-up, I want to make sure I can transfer that involvement with Ulster on to the pitch with Ireland.

“It comes with experience. You get to know the guys and the way they’re playing. That helps to get you involved and produce an impact in a game.”

Strapping and hale, there is an infectious, spirited gameness to Trimble’s dashing runs and making of yards, yet he is never certain he will be picked. That state of mind drives him.

“I know I want that time to come,” he says. “More and more in the last couple of years I’ve been cautiously confident. I’m looking forward to selection but with fingers crossed. The only way I can make that time come where I’m confident of being picked going into a selection meeting is to produce a big performance on Sunday, get picked and produce another big performance.”