Ryan Baird parks nerves ahead of first Six Nations start

Ryan Baird will win his eighth Irish cap on Sunday but a first Six Nations start will mean an awful lot more.

The giant Leinster lock made his international debut against Italy a year ago in an empty Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Six of his seven caps have come off the bench with the Test against the USA last summer his only start.

But just after lunchtime on Sunday, he will depart the Shelbourne Hotel in central Dublin for the short hop down to Lansdowne Road, and it’s a journey he can’t wait for.

"One of the most special things for me actually is driving on the bus from the Shelbourne to the Aviva," he said.

"You look outside and just see so many people clapping you as you're going into the stadium.

"It just gives you such a great perspective on where you are and the opportunity you have been given.

"It's always one of my favourite things, getting the bus to the stadium and just soaking it in. Singing the anthems realising how many people you are representing.

"It was only a while back, I was at a family gathering and so many people were coming up to me telling me how proud they are and how much they supported me.

"Sometimes you can actually forget that. You can get caught up in training and the day-to-day life of playing rugby and the challenges that come with it.

"It's nice to always reflect back on who you are doing it for and why you are doing it. Then it makes it a lot easier."

Just 22 years old, Baird, who is 6’ 6" tall, has made 36 appearances for Leinster and says that starting against the Azzurri is easier on his nerves than springing off the bench.

"I'll tell you, the only time I get nervous is if I'm coming off the bench," he said.

"Sitting there, you've warmed up but you might not be coming on until 40/50/60 minutes, so that