'I think every injury changes you' - Jack Conan hoping to make up for lost time at Rugby World Cup

Jack Conan says that he has unfinished business with the Rugby World Cup ahead of Ireland's opening warm-up game against Italy on Saturday.

The Leinster back row is deep into his third World Cup training camp with Ireland, but neither of the two previous campaigns worked out the way he would have liked.

Conan trained and made his debut with Ireland in the 2015 warm-up against Scotland but didn't make the final cut, and although he was in the form of his life coming into the 2019 tournament in Japan, a foot injury suffered in training after Ireland's opening game saw him ruled out of the rest of the competition.

"Four years ago was obviously incredibly gutting," says the back row.

"I think I played 40 minutes against Scotland and then I was due to start the week after [against Japan] but got injured and was then out for six months."

The 2021 British and Irish Lion turned 31 last Saturday, and says he wants to make up for lost time if selected for next month's World Cup in France.

"I definitely feel like I haven't had the opportunity to perform on the world stage. Obviously, I’ve played in the Six Nations and stuff, New Zealand last year and whatever else, but the World Cup is definitely something special.

"With my age profile, I’m not sure I will be knocking around in four years time. So I am excited to be at my best and put my hand up in these few warm-up games and then hopefully into the World Cup to show what I can do on that big stage."

The timing of that injury in 2019 could barely have been worse. Having needed surgery on his foot, the Covid-19 lockdowns meant it was 11 months before he was back on the pitch with Leinster, and it was the 2021 Six Nations before he was able to wriggle his way back into contention with