Ulster and Ireland winger Andrew Trimble talks to the Irish Times' Johnny Watterson about a year in the rugby wilderness and rediscovering a renewed focus and appetite for the game.
"After a year in the wilderness, Trimble has had time to watch. In his own mind it has been too much time, enough at least to put him on the outside looking in. He watched Ulster slip and slide throughout last season and, most hurtful of all, watched the Ireland team that he had once been part of charge to a Grand Slam without him.
"Declan Kidney had little choice but to leave him out of contention and Trimble didn’t quibble. After a series of injuries, he had lost the power in his legs. His starting place with the province was in doubt.
"The confidence evaporated and his game spiralled downwards. He ended up watching Ireland’s final championship match against Wales at home with his brother-in-law. By then the lack of confidence was hurtling towards full-blown doubt."
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