Despite CJ Stander being one of Ireland's better performers in a dismal World Cup campaign, he had a feeling his grip on the number eight jersey was hanging by a thread coming into the 2020 Six Nations.
This wasn't down to poor form or advancing age, but due to a prospect who was quickly establishing himself as an important player at Leinster.
Caelan Doris has been hugely impressive during Leinster's remarkable start to the season, with the 21-year old forcing his way into international consideration as a result. This was not an unexpected development when you consider how highly rated he has been over the past couple of years.
He has been handed the number eight jersey for this weekend's Six Nations opener against Scotland, something CJ Stander had seen coming.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference this morning, he revealed that he actually met Doris' father last year and predicted this exact outcome:
He told me his son was coming through.
I was joking about it that he's going to take my spot. I said to him then just to make sure that he enjoys it and trains hard, like anyone else.
If I talk to him before the game, I'll tell him to go out there and do what he's done to get here, enjoy it. It's the Six Nations and it's special.
He's a great ballplayer, he's got a good work-rate and he's still young so there's a lot more to come from him, I'd say.
Stander has not dropped out of the team completely, instead moving to the blindside in the back row. It is a position he said he is more than comfortable operating in:
It's is a place I’m familiar with in this squad, it’s not really a big switch for me, it’s just a number change.
I think my job there is to just make sure I get into space a little bit and work with the boys around me, give them an easier job.
