Erin King on Ireland debut: Jeez, it felt surreal

Erin King reckons her international debut for Ireland against Australia on Saturday came in just her fourth senior game of rugby.

The 20-year-old had previously played for Leinster and Ireland's Under-18s sides but her involvement with the Sevens set-up for the last three years has limited her exposure to the 15s code.

Back row King and five other replacements were sent on in the 52nd minute when Ireland held a 17-5 lead over the visitors in Belfast.

The Wicklow woman, who came on for captain Edel McMahon, buzzed around the field and was instrumental in two of the next three tries as Ireland ran out impressive 36-10 victors.

"Jeez, it felt surreal. It was great craic to go out there with those girls," she told RTÉ Sport after the game.

"They made it easy for me.

"My mindset was just, like, let’s see how far we can push this Aussie team.

"I know the girls started off really well in that first half, but I knew we had more in us.

"I guess coming from Sevens, I’m quite used to getting very hyped and coming on for a short space of time, and just giving it my everything.

"I was just doing it for the team, seeing how much I could help out the team and seeing how far we could push the Aussies."

Asked how many senior games she had played, she replied: "In the last few years, I haven’t played very many.

"I’ve played three senior 15s games for Old Belvedere, but that’s about it.

"Not very many, but I guess the Sevens skills do transfer over and the last two weeks in training camp have been really helpful.

"The girls have just been teaching me loads and the coaches, everything I knew to do out there I’ve learnt to do in the last two weeks really.

"I wasn’t too nervous. I have a lot of experience on the World Series playing the Sevens, so I have