'It took me a while to really figure it out' - Peter O'Mahony back in the Ireland team and loving his rugby

Twelve months ago, it felt like Peter O'Mahony's role in the Irish team was changing.

The form of Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan, the latter having starred on the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa, had seen the Munster veteran squeezed out of the starting team.

At 32-years-old (in 2021), it seemed like a natural evolution for both O'Mahony and Ireland, and it appeared to be working. The all-Leinster back row was working nicely, and were outstanding as a unit in the win against New Zealand this time last year.

It seemed to be suiting O'Mahony too, the flanker bringing the right blend of impact and experience off the bench when Ireland were needing it.

How foolish we were in thinking the former Lions captain would be settling for a place on the bench.

In the second half of last season, he pulled out two of his biggest Munster performances in the Champions Cup against Exeter and Toulouse, and having swapped back and forth with Conan during the Six Nations, O'Mahony has seemingly reclaimed his place in Andy Farrell's first choice back row.

Starting all three Tests against New Zealand in the summer, as well as the win against South Africa earlier this month, he returns to the side for tomorrow's meeting with Australia having been rested in last week's win versus Fiji.

He admits it took him a while to get to grips with Andy Farrell's gameplan.

"One thing I always hang my hat on is my ability to learn things and be very coachable," he said at an event for Aviva Ireland yesterday.

"I struggled with a few things that maybe Andy and the lads were looking at, it took me a while to figure it out for myself, I think. I'm starting to get there. I’m starting to really figure it out and obviously with the more time