Andrew Porter used to be sick with nerves before games but now he relishes big occasions such as Ireland's Six Nations opener against Wales on Saturday.
The Leinster prop is one of Ireland's main pack weapons but he has revealed that early in his career, he suffered from anxiety going into matches.
The 27-year-old worked on himself and, with the help of Gary Keegan, Porter believes that he and the rest of the Ireland players have learned to handle the toughest of assignments.
After the last Rugby World Cup, performance anxiety was blamed for Ireland's latest quarter-final disappointment. Their current world number one ranking underlines how Andy Farrell's charges have turned things around.
"I remember I used to use it real negatively, I used to go inside myself and I'd be getting sick before games with the nerves, and then with the crowd it would be doubling that kind of anxiety," said Porter.
"When you get a few more games under your belt you learn how to deal with that.
"It's a huge battle playing away from home, but something you really relish now, and use that energy to your advantage. You're blocking out, focusing on what you're doing around the park.
"It's tough when you're in a stadium like the Principality to hear yourself think, but you have to do your best in terms of slowing your thought process down, and not letting the occasion get to you.
"That's something I've really worked on, and the coaches and sports psychologist Gary Keegan has done really well with some guys who are breaking into the team, and might not be used to those big games and big stadiums."
Porter is among those Ireland players who have not won in Cardiff in the Six Nations and he believes Ireland must hit top form in their first championship outing to end a streak of defeats there as Warren Gatland's return is certain to galvanise a team brimming with veterans.
Their front row, for example, has a combined age of 95.
"Obviously, he's selected players with a lot of experience, and I think the crowd will inevitably get behind Gats at home," he said.
"We're really excited for the challenge that's been put out against us. It's a real tough place to go, especially with the talented players they have. It's one of those games you look forward to every second year.
"It's a real cauldron, going into the Principality, and we'll need to have our best performance on the day.
"We're more than capable and more than ready and it's something we're looking forward to, that close quarters battle with the pack, and look forward to getting our hands dirty in the trenches.
"We really did prove ourselves against the world champions in the Autumn, but we're nor dwelling on the past. You're always faced with another challenge down the road, whether it's a physical battle, or playing away from home it's another challenge.
"All we can do is focus on ourselves, and look what we can put out on the pitch.
"I remember back to 2018 and when we did the Grand Slam that year, and when we went away to France, that's one of the most hostile places you can go, and we came away with a win there."
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