He’s still buzzing, really, from three weeks ago, though Cormac Izuchukwu’s naturally wired enthusiasm is now tempered somewhat by having spent time on the pitch at Toulouse last Sunday when back wearing an Ulster jersey.
It was the 24-year-old’s first Champions Cup game — though he did feature in last season’s Challenge Cup — and overall, the initial experience of playing in club rugby’s top tournament wasn’t exactly a good one as Ulster shipped 61 points, 40 being brought up by the midway point and before he could get into the action off the bench.
“It kind of stays with you and is a bit of an itch, so hopefully this weekend I can fix that,” Izuchukwu admits, though the subject matter which still lingers around the foreground is his first Ireland cap against Fiji on November 23.
Indeed, the actual cap comes with its own tale given the ‘Izzy’ treatment.
He and fellow debutant Gus McCarthy were both presented with their caps after the win over the Fijians and the idea was that they kept the items, complete with golden thread and a tassel, on their persons for the evening. First cappers and all that.
But not the London-born and Tullamore-raised Izuchukwu.
“I was supposed to wear it out that night for the function, but I gave it to my mum and she took it, so I got a lot of stick over that, but it’s safe in Tullamore anyway,” he says with a broad smile.
He could be forgiven for breaking protocol as it had been an emotional day for the player who, this time last year, was largely seen at Ulster as a bench option — 13 of his then 17 appearances had been as a replacement — and was still to be found turning out in Ballynahinch colours for AIL action.
Last month’s penultimate Saturday was also special for the Izuchukwu clan; Cormac’s mother Catriona, his two brothers and sister were all in the stands at the Aviva Stadium.
“I didn’t know (where they were), not until after,” he says.
“Whenever they start singing anthems and stuff, it kind of really hits you, you can feel the power of the crowd and the lads beside you.”
And in terms of wondering where they might be, he adds: “I was starting, so I was quite caught up in it and I was crazy nervous, and I was thinking of kick-off and that when it goes, you’re into the game, so I was just thinking of kick-off and that was it.
“My family are not massively into rugby, and I think I’m the only one who played rugby in my family, so it was really special, unbelievable.
“My eldest brother had flown back from England, and it was his 30th birthday as well, so that was even more special.”
He thought he had a try only for it to be scrubbed out due to Mack Hansen’s assist being deemed forward, but he is eager to switch towards “Ulster mode” and the rather more pressing matter of wearing the provincial shirt again this weekend in the Champions Cup against more formidable French opposition in Bordeaux Bègles.
“I’ve been lucky with Ireland selections in the past,” he notes of previous squad call-ups ahead of the first cap.
“There have been injuries, and I’ve had a couple of good games just before the selection period,” Izuchukwu says of maybe making the cut for the Six Nations squad before moving on from all this with a “whatever happens, happens” approach.
“I can’t wait for this weekend and getting stuck into Bordeaux, have my best performance and, hopefully, that helps the team.
“It hurts a lot,” he says, referencing last Sunday in Toulouse.
“You want to be up there with the best in the world, and it’s hard. I myself wasn’t up to it last weekend, I felt like I didn’t have enough good moments.
“As a team, we really hate losing and it’s not a good environment to be around whenever we lose and everyone wants to change (that), and you can only change that by winning, so this weekend we’re going to get stuck in and hopefully do what we can.”
And Ulster need something to advance their cause in a fiendishly challenging Pool One — as well as Toulouse and Bordeaux, Leicester Tigers are also there — which could well come down to Ulster and Exeter Chiefs battling it out to make the Challenge Cup and avoid finishing bottom.
There is no denying that Ulster have it all to do, particularly after surrendering so much at champions Toulouse.
“Obviously, there’s a lot to fix and they (Toulouse) had certain players like (Antoine) Dupont and players doing certain things, but Bordeaux have a whole new set of players who can do a whole other set of things, so it’s going to be a case of just take our medicine and hopefully move in the right direction,” he explains.
“They’re (Bordeaux) very similar to Toulouse in that they have a lot of X-factor players who can turn it on from anywhere.
“Their backline is really special, they’ve got power and speed, same as Toulouse, but it’s just a case of can we handle that and, as forwards, spread the field and take care of the challenges,” adds Izuchukwu. “I can’t wait for it and to get stuck in and hopefully have a good game and do something special for the fans as when you’re back here, it’s a whole different feeling.”
In a way, it’s all been a bit of a blur. He toured South Africa with the senior Ireland squad last summer and now has his cap — though, of course, the actual item is in Tullamore — while also having cemented his place in Richie Murphy’s squad since the back end of last season to now be playing Champions Cup rugby.
“I’m still hitting my milestones,” he says.
“My first (Champions Cup) game that was special, and this is my first home game this week, and that’s another challenge for me, that’s something I haven’t experienced before, a home (Champions Cup) game here, so I can’t wait for that.
“I’m still having the moments so, hopefully, they keep coming.
“I’ve surprised myself with how fast it’s gone, I think every player believes they are good enough but, for me, it’s how quick and fast it’s come. It’s been a bit of a surprise how fast it’s gone.”
Leaving national camp behind brings its own issues as he gets back up to speed with Ulster’s moves and calls while working on what Murphy wants and ensuring that the work-ons he has been given by Ireland are also getting attention.
He says: “When you go away, you can learn so much and bring that back with you, but there are also lads here who are so good, lads like Al (O’Connor) and Waz (Andrew Warwick) who have so many caps and experience, so when you come back, you still learn loads.
“And coming back in here and switching focus back to Ulster mode, I suppose, it’s been special, the last couple of weeks have kind of been buzzing with new things coming towards me and I’ve really enjoyed them and tried to embrace them as much as I could.
“So, back in, and the lads are pretty amped up. You can only keep going forward.”
Seems like a reasonable plan.