Jamie Osborne couldn't put a price on the experience he's picked up in Ireland camp over recent weeks.
The dynamic young Leinster centre has been like a sponge, absorbing everything from the pre-Six Nations warm weather camp in Portugal to his hero Brian O'Driscoll addressing the players last week, to the excitement of the two Test match days.
Osborne, 21, was among the 12 players released by Andy Farrell to their provincial squads this week and will hope to put into practice for Leinster against Dragons at the RDS on Saturday what he learned during his third time in Ireland camp - but his first as a proper squad pick.
Previously, he was a development player for a week in camp during the Autumn series in 2021. He was then with the Ireland A squad last November, who worked in tandem with the Test group.
“I think it helped that I had been in before because I kind of knew what to expect," said Osborne, who will hope to be included in the squad again for the Italy game in Rome next week.
"The first time I went in I was really nervous because I was a development player and probably didn’t feel as part of the squad as I do now. This time I’m more comfortable, so nothing has really shocked me.
"We had a tough, tough training week in Portugal and it was great to see everything we had worked on during the week implemented well by the lads on Saturday (against Wales).
"Cardiff was an unbelievable experience. The roof closed just creates such a good atmosphere in the stadium. It was good because I warmed up with the team there, it was cool to be part of it.
“Everyone makes it so easy. It’s such a good atmosphere in the squad, everyone is encouraged to be themselves. It probably helps that there are so many Leinster players in there for me.
“I had a couple of chats (with management) in the first week of camp. All they want is to try to get me up to speed with everything, get me to understand how they want to attack and defend. I’m just trying my best to do that in training.”
And getting to meet O'Driscoll? "He was my favourite player growing up," said Osborne, who was outstanding in his recent first Champions Cup appearances for Leinster.
“I just thought he was able to do everything at such a high level.
"I mean, defensively, he was able to make great reads - even for not the biggest player, he was able to really put in good shots. Then obviously in attack, he had serious pace to burn you.
“But for anyone from Naas, obviously Jamie Heaslip - I would have looked up to him, and then more recently Adam Byrne because he actually went to my school.
“He was the first player to play for Leinster who went to my school. He would have been someone I would have looked up to in my early teens."
Now it is Osborne who is flying the flag. He played Gaelic Football regularly for Naas GAA, as well as for the CBS in the town and was part of a successful side, but rugby was always his first love.
“I actually turned down being part of the Kildare under-16s squad because I wanted to focus on rugby," he said.
Now a fully fledged backline option for Leinster, Osborne can see the similarities between the way the province and Ireland attack.
“It is quite similar," he said. "What we want to do here and with Ireland is play the space early. You can see how quick the lads are getting set to attack and the amount of options that they have on the ball.
“But I’d say at Test level, you have much less time to make your decision, much less time on the ball. I suppose it goes up a step compared to provincial.
Training has definitely been tough but I think it’s going well.”
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