‘Not you again? Jesus. I thought we got rid of you’ – Mike Ross is back, thank f***

Following the World Cup quarter final exit to Argentina, and somewhere in the dank bowels of the Millennium Stadium, Mike Ross came out to speak to us.

The tighthead was turning 36 two months later and there were already to young men pushing hard for his Ireland jersey. Leinster too. Somebody had to ask the question - 'Are you hoping to be part of Joe Schmidt's Six Nations plans?' Ross put us all back in our collective boxes. Of course he would. Four months on and Ireland are win-less in their first two Six Nations games. The Irish scrum has faltered badly. Ross is back to face England and, as a nation, we can breathe again. For those of use hoping to wring every last minute - every last scrum - from the Cork native, Ross has a heartening message:

"I'd never, ever retire internationally. They'll have to drag me out, kicking and screaming. "That decision will be made for me, let's put it like that. I'm not going to decide myself that I'm not going to pull on that green jersey. I'll play as long as they pick me. That's my attitude to it. Every time I pull on that jersey is a blessing."

Given Ireland's scrum troubles, one would imagine that Ross was welcomed back with streamers, balloons and whatever seat he liked on the team bus? "Not really," he remarked.

"I tend to take a bit of stick inside here. 'Not you again? Jesus. I thought we got rid of you'. "I know these lads pretty well. I've played with most of them for years. I'm not a stranger to this environment."

That, in itself, is another blessing.