Connacht’s famous five are further proof that the West is very much awake

A look and a smile said it all.

For surely the first time in their long, proud history the province of Connacht had five representatives on an Ireland team at the final whistle of a Test match. Starter Robbie Henshaw and replacements Ultan Dillane, Kieran Marmion, Nathan White and debutant Finlay Bealham made history for the Westerners in Saturday's 58-15 demolition of Italy. It is no more than the province deserves, sitting proudly atop the PRO12 table, no one can deny the quality of Pat Lam's team and, against the Azzurri, they got to show their wares at the highest level. From grizzled Kiwi veteran White, to Australian shot-in-the-dark Bealham, to homegrown hero Henshaw and academy products Marmion and Dillane, this quintet represented the beauty of what Lam is achieving at the Sportsgrounds. Their Kiwi coach has taken a ragtag bunch of foreign talent, special projects and domestic assets and turned them into the best Celtic club team in Europe, on current form, and this was reflected in the fact that a third of the team that finished against Italy hailed from west of the Shannon. Bealham admits the prospect of such an event was beyond his wildest imagination before this season began.

"If you told me that five of us would be playing a Six Nations game against Italy I don’t know what I would have told you," said the 24-year-old Australian. "We didn’t say too much at the end, we just all looked at each other and had a big smile. We were all thinking the same thing, really humbled and just really happy we were all there. Hopefully some more lads will come in in the future."

Scrum-half Marmion is also flummoxed by the rapid rise in fortunes for himself and his provincial pals. The 24-year-old was winning his fifth cap against Italy, but it was his first Six Nations appearance, made possible by injury to Eoin Reddan.

"It is great where Connacht are and obviously it is a reflection of where Connacht are to have five lads out there today. It is great and there are more lads there that are ready to step up soon," he said.

"Connacht is in a good place, there are a lot of lads playing good rugby who have improved throughout this year and last year. It is great to go out there and play with them, knowing them inside out from playing with them. It gives us confidence when we go out there too, playing with the Connacht lads." Marmion has been in consistently fine form in Galway for several seasons but is realistic about his place in the pecking order behind the likes of Reddan and starter Conor Murray. "I have had to wait my time out, I have lads like Reddan ahead of me and he has 70 caps maybe. It is not about being thrown straight in, you have to work hard to get there. I have been doing that over the last few years and hopefully soon my time will come," he said. "It is a completely different step up from provincial rugby to Test rugby, sometimes it works throwing a guy straight in," he added. "Confidence is a big thing, especially when you're playing against guys this good. Confidence is a huge factor when you go out there and play." Bealham barely had time to get his head around his first cap as he was only added to the matchday squad on Thursday after Cian Healy tweaked his hamstring. Once he knew he was going to be Jack McGrath's loosehead back-up he was straight on the phone to Australia. "I gave my mum and dad a call and told them I was going to be on the bench. I think I woke them up in the middle of the night but I don’t think they mind. They were very, very happy." The prop was proud as punch at his first cap but admitted he had very little idea what was going on, saying he had no clue where he was headed after his interview was over. "I have no idea, man. I have been following Nathan White around when I have been in camp, so maybe follow him. I’d say he will be glad to see the back of me when this is over. [It’ll be about] enjoying this win tonight and prep for Scotland tomorrow." However Bealham was sure to savour the occasion, starting with the anthems. "A few lads were saying, ‘Take it all in.’ [I didn’t want] to let the moment get the better of me. I saw all the fans and it gives you that little buzz. "It was humbling looking up and seeing everyone sing the anthem. It was something that I will remember forever." It is something Connacht fans will remember for a long time too. Henshaw may be leaving them for Leinster this summer but you get the sense there is something special building in the west. Something permanent.