Ulster back row Nick Timoney is chasing a place in the Ireland squad after years of near misses. He takes the view that not being picked in the past did not mean he was not good enough. That mindset, he says, keeps him pushing forward rather than stewing over old omissions. Competition for back-row spots at international level is as tough as it gets. His response has been to keep performing for his province and let the selectors decide. He treats every squad announcement as fuel for the next block of training. The new campaign gives him another chance to make his case on the pitch.