It has taken four years for Ulster's Tom Court to weave his way into the fabric of the Irish rugby team.

He was a peripheral figure on the road to the glorious Grand Slam, making one appearance from the bench against Italy in Rome. He was the man most likely to prompt Irish supporters south of the border to scream "who's that guy?" as the television cameras panned across the Irish squad during Amhrán na bhFiann and Ireland's Call.

"It was all a bit surreal to start with," admitted Court. "When I first came over, it was all very strange the settling-in process. I got to know everyone in the Irish squad gradually. I have blended in. It is a learning curve. Deccie (Kidney) tends to bring guys in gradually."

For the man from Brisbane, it is not so much about developing a sense of Irishness as finding common ground with the players. It is more about the love he feels for the guys he works with rather than the love of a flag, a jersey or a song, even though he holds tight to a strong Irish heritage.

"My grandfather Patrick Carey was from Limerick -- he lived his life down there -- and after World War II he moved to Australia. He passed away a few years ago," he said. "We spent every Easter and Christmas with him up on the Sunshine Coast. He was the only grandparent I knew. All the others had passed away when I was young or before I was born.

Fan

"He had all the Irish music playing at Christmas. He was a Christy Moore fan. He was very Irish.

"Mum (Nora) talks a lot about her Irish roots. Even though she was born in England and has lived a lot of her life in Australia, she always thinks of herself as Irish.

"My Dad, well, he is probably bred directly from the line of convicts that originally went out there. He is an out-and-out Aussie," smirked Court with obvious affection.

The cut-throat nature of professional sport forced him outside his own country in 2006: "I started that season with the (Queensland) Reds. I came in late from the NPC in New Zealand where I had been playing for Manawatu.

"The Reds had a full quota on their roster. They way it worked out, if you play four games, they have to give you a full contract. There were money restraints. They told me they couldn't contract me or play me anymore.

"At that stage, I was 25-years-old. I couldn't waste six-seven months of a season sitting around doing nothing. I wanted to play as much as possible to develop to a decent standard.

"I had a well-paid job. I was managing a training organisation. But I took a risk. I left the job to come to Ulster. I always wanted to pursue rugby and I saw it as my last chance."

His agent at the time, Anthony Picone, secured him a modest full-time contract at Ulster in 2006. The rest was up to him.

At present, the 29-year-old former first-class shot putter is feeling more at home in his surroundings: "If you are not playing that much, you do feel a little bit on the outside of what is happening, worrying about what exactly is your involvement," he said, about the Grand Slam glory run.

"It is on the training pitch, in the team bonding, the team building process where you get to know the guys. The longer you are with the guys the more you know them, the more you feel involved, and the more you feel a part of the team.

"Obviously, it is all about playing. The main thing, coming into an environment like that, where there are well established players -- John (Hayes) and Marcus (Horan) have been playing there for a long time -- was to make sure I was ready to contribute if and when they needed me.

"Deccie is fairly conservative on that sort of thing. If a game is tight, he is not going to throw guys in there and risk rocking the boat," he continued.

So far, Court has earned four Ireland caps, three from the bench, winning his first start against Canada at Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver, in May. It would have been a sweet irony to get game-time against Australia. It wasn't to be. He remained glued to the bench.

"You are always torn when you don't get on, but it was probably warranted the way Deccie played it," he said diplomatically.

"It was a strange feeling. When I was growing up, that was the song I sung. When it comes to rugby, I think of myself as Irish. I have been here four years now. It may take a lot longer to be accepted as Irish.

"I made my choice when I first came over here and I will never regret it. I try to sing Ireland's Call as full-heartedly as I can."

Now, he steps out for his second start as a loose-head -- he arrived in Ireland as a tight-head only to move across the front row on the advice of ex-Ulster coach Matt Williams following the signing of South African BJ Botha -- against Fiji as a more confident, composed and physically lighter challenger to Horan and that guy, Cian Healy.

Scrummaging

"I only started playing (rugby) union when I was 24. The ball running and tackling wasn't too bad. But I was at sea in terms of the technical aspects of scrummaging, rucking and general forward play back then.

"Last season, I was making the change from tight-head to loose-head. I was concentrating on learning the technical side of that position. I got to feel fairly comfortable in that by the end of the season.

"Then, I moved on to other areas of my game and part of that was being more mobile and agile in my work rate around the field. It has worked out great. I've lost 8-10 kilos."

What he has lost in weight, he has more than gained in form, fitness and respect as a late-blooming 29-year-old prop in a position where 'his country' needs it most.

- Des Berry