Hard work finally pays off - Trimble

Andrew Trimble erased the memories of not being involved in any of last year’s Six Nations Championship games by putting in a stirring performance to help Ireland secure the title in a thrilling game in Paris on Saturday.
RBS 6 Nations Championship,  Stade de France, Paris 15/3/2014
France vs Ireland
Ireland's Andrew Trimble scores their second try
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan SheridanRBS 6 Nations Championship,  Stade de France, Paris 15/3/2014
France vs Ireland
Ireland's Andrew Trimble scores their second try
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
RBS 6 Nations Championship, Stade de France, Paris 15/3/2014 France vs Ireland Ireland's Andrew Trimble scores their second try Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

The Coleraine man scored a crucial try to help the Irish to their first title since 2009 speaking afterwards he said he was delighted to finally show his worth in a green shirt.

“More often than not, I’ve underperformed for Ireland,” said Trimble.

“I’ve been a bit fed up letting opportunities slip. This is definitely the high point of my career. I sat down with the likes of Joe Schmidt and Mervyn Murphy, our video analyst, and went through some things.

RBS 6 Nations Championship,  Stade de France, Paris 15/3/2014
France vs Ireland
The Ireland team celebrate
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy SticklandRBS 6 Nations Championship,  Stade de France, Paris 15/3/2014
France vs Ireland
The Ireland team celebrate
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
RBS 6 Nations Championship, Stade de France, Paris 15/3/2014 France vs Ireland The Ireland team celebrate Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

“I’ve worked on little bits and pieces and finally it has all come together and to put it together with the Championship means the world to me. The hard work has paid off and it means so much.”

Trimble did not play in Ireland’s Autumn Tests, including the epic defeat by New Zealand, but he was already receiving encouragement from the new coach.

“Joe was ringing me regularly and keeping me involved and that was important.”

His try in Saturday’s win, Ireland’s second of three in the Stade de France was his third touchdown of the Six Nations as he answered Schmidt’s faith in the best possible way.

“We’ve just put in eight weeks of really hard work, on the pitch and off the pitch,” he added. “It shows if you put in the hard work, and we’ve got the talent, the players and the coach, we can get the results.”