Andrew Trimble has called on the Ireland team to forget their summer tour nightmare when they face South Africa on Saturday - in spite of the absence of Paul O’Connell.
Ireland were thrashed 60 - 0 against New Zealand in the third of June’s three-test series.
“It was a massive disappointment after the tour. It’s not a tour that any one of us is proud to have been on,” said the Ulster winger.
“There’s frustration at getting beaten so badly. It’s a long time waiting to put things right.
“You can dwell on it and divert down a bad path or you can bounce back from it. Hopefully we can bounce back.”
Trimble added: “Looking at it logically, we’ve produced big performances over the last few years and we know that if we do that, we’ll get big results.”
Meanwhile, Donnacha Ryan has said he will never take his Ireland jersey for granted after an experience earlier in his career taught him humility.
The 28-year-old Munster second row will win his 22nd cap in Saturday’s Guinness Series opener against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium.
With Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan entering the twilight of their careers, Ryan has the opportunity to establish himself as Ireland’s foremost lock.
A man-of-the-match performance against Scotland in March points to a player at ease in the Test arena, but he will never take his position for granted.
“In my first year of rugby I made the Munster youths and the Irish youths and I started believing I was very good,” he said.
“I went into St Munchin’s (College) a year later. It’s a very lonely place when lads think you’re too big for your boots. It was a great lesson for me and I’ll never forget it.
“It was more of a case of where I thought I was better than I actually was. I’ve no problem saying that.
“At that age when you come from a small town and you’re making the dizzy heights of the Nenagh Guardian, you actually believe it when people are telling you you’re great.
“I was only 17 at the time and so was very gullible. When it comes too thick and fast you start thinking you could be that good.
“But sport is the best leveller of all, especially in rugby. If a guy is getting too big for his boots you can do him. It was brilliant.
“Munchin’s for me was a tough place to go. I got a good Leaving Cert, got a Senior Cup and made some good friends.
“It was a great learning experience and I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t had that.”
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