As it happens, we end up talking injuries which is probably understandable as Friday night marks Stuart McCloskey’s first game in seven weeks since limping off against Munster, a hamstring ending his involvement just on the run-in to Christmas.
It was thought that the 32-year-old would be out for a considerable period of time, but the long-serving centre has healed well and is now back for Friday’s friendly hit-out with Les Kiss’ Queensland Reds as, indeed, are longer-term absentees Jacob Stockdale and James Hume.
For the trio of experienced players, the timing could hardly be better, and doubtless Richie Murphy is also somewhat pleased to see them back in harness as Ulster seek to move on in a positive fashion after the humiliation of losing at home to Zebre last time out.
Fortunately, none of the three were around for that encounter which means McCloskey can get down to discussing the quick turnaround that sees him ready for action again.
“It (the hamstring injury) was probably as bad as you can get and likely 10-12 weeks at the start,” says McCloskey of the issue that forced him off in the opening half of the festive defeat to Munster and which likely cost him a place in Simon Easterby’s Six Nations squad.
“And then rehab went really well and I probably could have played last week at a push but there was no game.
“So, it’s actually worked out better for me that I got a week of training and I’m ready to go now.
“It’s probably better it’s one of these games rather than a League game to get myself back in, and especially for James (Hume) who’s been out for nine or 10 months there and Jacob (Stockdale) who was out for three months so really, it’s been a decent lick of time for them.
“I only did seven weeks, but it’s been a while for those lads to get the lungs burning.”
He then turns his attention to his returning team-mates and, firstly, Stockdale’s hamstring which has sidelined the winger since last November’s international against Fiji.
“I think our scans were similar and sometimes it (the rehab) goes quicker for other people,” explains McCloskey.
“It probably helps I’m not as fast as Jacob but he’s flying now.”
Stuart McCloskey sustained a hamstring injury during Ulster’s December match with Munster
As for centre partner Hume who required surgery on a damaged ACL after limping off against Cardiff last April, McCloskey is unequivocal on lining out alongside him.
“It’s always great having a player of his ability coming back,” he states, “and I get there’ll be rust at the start, but you’ll still see glimpses of what he can show even from the start.
“He’s still got great feet; he’s still got that aggression and we’ve definitely seen that in training over the last few months coming back in.”
Not that this situation is allowed to detract from the efforts put in by Jude Postlethwaite and Ben Carson in Ulster’s midfield and McCloskey weighs in with much praise for the pair of young centres.
“He’s done brilliantly,” McCloskey says of Postlethwaite.
“For a guy of his age, he’s had to step up and play basically every game. He’s far beyond what I was at that age
“I’ve been very impressed. The same with Carsey (Ben Carson) coming in he’s probably played half the games and gone really well.”
Stuart McCloskey had been expected to miss out for a longer spell
Inevitably, we get around to the Six Nations and that McCloskey is not even around the squad courtesy of that troublesome hamstring.
“It’s a weird one,” he says. “I’d love to be in there and I still feel slightly part of it even though I’m not there.
“It is tough, I’d love to be playing, and I’d love to get back in at some stage as well but I can’t complain.
“I spoke to Simon Easterby around Christmas when I got injured and then I spoke to Andrew Goodman (Ireland backs coach) just before the squad was named and it was kind of left at seeing when I get back and maybe they might fit me in somewhere.
“If they need me, I’m there. The guys are doing a good job but I’d be happy to nip in and play the last couple of games if somebody gets injured. I’ll happily do that if they need me to.”
Ireland’s loss should be Ulster’s gain.