'At the start it felt a little different because it's opposite'

Tom O’Toole now feels he’s a bona fide loosehead after starting Ireland’s last five test matches in the No1 shirt – and is likely to spend most of his time in that position for Ulster this season.

Ahead of this afternoon’s European Challenge Cup game at Zebre – which will feature O’Toole in the role, having previously won 18 caps at tighthead before switching sides of the scrum – he hopes his ability to play both will aid club and country.

placeholder image — Ulster’s Tom O’Toole. (Photo by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press)

“I’d be pretty confident in myself, I think for the short amount of time that I've probably played at that role over the last couple of years and in a couple of big games, I feel pretty strong,” said O’Toole. “I'd be pretty confident that it's a position that I could probably grow with and grow pretty well.

"The more opportunities I probably get there, the more confidence I probably do get, I guess.

“The more tightheads to come and the more exposure, the more stuff that you'll have to deal with and I'll have to problem solve.

“I guess the change of focus...it's a one-on-one, which I quite like that.

"Whereas, at tighthead, it's nearly a two-on-one.

"You're obviously dealing with the loosehead coming at you and he's throwing everything at you but then you've got to be aware of the hooker trying to break that joint as well.

“I think going into a World Cup year it'd be nice to be able to have the ability to do both, it's been nice getting reps and training.

"I know that I'd probably come back into the season a bit late into round three there but in terms of getting reps at loosehead and then obviously doing a bit of tight head as well...

“We've had a few guys carrying a few niggles in terms of loosehead and tightend fitness, but getting a few of those guys back.

"So we have a few more available numbers for obviously games and training but nice having that ability.

“When I first started to transition over to that, I had Cian Healy – pretty experienced – to kind of show me the ropes a little bit.

“He was quite good when we were both in Irish camp and I started to slowly kind of to go over to that side.

"And, as I touched on during the Six Nations last year, Cian actually came into the hotel and helped me around the development of loose head as well.

"So, yeah, at the start it felt a little different because it's opposite foot, opposite shoulder.

"It kind of felt like probably driving on the other side of the car a little bit.

“But now I'm way more comfortable with it.

"I think just reps and reps of that I've gotten over the last few weeks since I've rejoined Ulster.

"It's just something that I'm way more comfortable with.”

New Ulster scrum coach Clarke Dermody has helped O’Toole in his new role.

“He's been unbelievable with the group of guys so far,” said O’Toole. “I joined the group playing-wise a little bit later.

"So at the start it was just kind of just doing what I can to help the lads prepare for the pre-season games and for the first couple of rounds.

“He's been super good with us, he's got a really good calmness about him, which works well with a lot of the guys.

"Very approachable in terms of going through different images.

"And he works really hard, so he's always available to pick up the phone to answer a few questions or to just knock by his office and go through a couple of things.”

ULSTER: (15-9) J Stockdale, R Baloucoune, David Hawkshaw, J Flannery, Z Ward, J Benson, N Doak; (1-8) T O’Toole, H Walker, K Knox, H Sheridan, C Izuchukwu, J McKillop, D McCann, J Augustus.

Replacements: T Stewart, E O’Sullivan, S Wilson, J Hopes, M Moloney, M Devine, J Murphy, M Lowry.