Stuart Olding is living the dream ahead of his third consecutive Ulster start against Treviso at Ravenhill on Friday night.
Olding lines up in midfield beside Belfast Harlequins club mate Darren Cave and he wants to take every opportunity he’s given.
“When Mark says you’re starting you sort of take about 20 seconds to yourself and everything else just shuts off, you don’t really see anything or listen to anything at that point and you just try and take it in your stride,” said Olding.
“It’s just unbelievable feeling whenever you walk out there (Ravenhill), it’s full of kids at the side of the tunnel and I remember being one of those kids not so long ago, it’s a great feeling to run out in front of that crowd.”
“I had to pinch myself at the start playing with the international players, world cup winners, Irish players and Ulster players that I watched going up, I am now more comfortable and confident in the game and I’m at the stage where I don’t have to pinch myself anymore it’s a case of getting down to business.”
Olding started against the Ospreys at out half but looked more comfortable in the centre against Glasgow and with Paddy Wallace’s injury he finds himself at 12 again.
“It’s a chance for me to establish myself but it is never nice whenever a team mate gets injured and especially when it’s Paddy who has been one of the key players this season, Luke is playing very well but he is away with Ireland now, I just want to take my chances and get as much experience as I can and hopefully put my name in the mix for future games.”
“I only got one cap last year and that was for about 12 minutes against Leinster so to be on my sixth cap is massive.”
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