“I played New Zealand with a chip on my shoulder. I had something to prove” – James Lowe

"Aw, mate, it was a rollercoaster of emotions."

James Lowe came into the Ireland team, in 2020, with huge expectations as to what he could achieve in a green jersey. He started with a bang, against Wales, but had it tough in a couple of games after that. One tough away day against England threatened to seiously impact on his Test career but, with fitness issues and injuries behind him, he bounced into this season with renewed purpose. While some, including myself, were looking at the likes of Simon Zebo or Jordan Larmour to start Ireland's big games in the recent Test window, Andy Farrell opted for Lowe on the left wing and was duly rewarded. The Leinster winger started all three Tests, scored against Japan while making line breaks for fun and had his best international outing to date against the home of his birth, New Zealand in a superb Irish win. Speaking with us, a few weeks removed from that winning November run, Lowe is very honest and forthcoming about what that stretch of games meant to him. [caption id="attachment_240967" align="aligncenter" width="640"] James Lowe pictured after the Autumn Nations Series match between Ireland and New Zealand at Aviva Stadium. (Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile)[/caption]

'I had something to prove,' says James Lowe

"It was obviously a rollercoaster of emotions, leading into that," says Lowe, who scored a great try, early on against the All Blacks, and prevented two tries with some super defensive work.

"Knowing I had the opportunity to play against New Zealand, there was almost a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. "I wanted to make sure I could prove myself against a lot of my friends, and people I had plied my tried with for years, was great. I know you've mentioned a couple of my moments, but there were some hugely influential moments from everyone in that game, from 1 to 23. "I don't think you could go across the whole team and think, 'Jeepers, he was off today'. Collectively, from 1 to 23, everyone was on point that week."

Lowe is back in the mix with Leinster and starts on the wing against Bath in their Champions Cup opener against Bath, at the Aviva Stadium, today. "Bath have a massive forward pack and a lot of boys that are very strong over the ball. They've some boys in the back three that are a little bit bigger than me! That's a big challenge, but one we're looking forward to." Leinster and Ireland rugby star James Lowe, who is Gourmet Burger Kitchen’s official Brand Ambassador, unveils new GBK in Dundrum Town Centre which will open next week in the Food Court.  

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