As a hooded, heavily-wrapped and ashen-faced Eric Miller made for the front door at the Castletroy Hotel, who should he stop to talk to other than Victor Costello, who had arrived minutes earlier. 'I step out and you step in again,' was probably the gist of what Miller said.

Indeed, this is nothing new for Costello, for whom international week almost invariably means a phone call from Whelan, a change in plans and a car dash to the Limerick base. He was pulled out of the A squad to deputise for Miller when the latter's ankle injury sidelined him for the Canada game.

Drafted in after an injury to Kieron Dawson, Costello then came on as a 78th minute replacement for David Erskine against Italy. He was subsequently pulled out of the A game against Scotland and promoted to the Irish bench when the International Board permitted a seventh replacement; he came on for Dawson with 11 minutes left.

Hence he simply says: 'It's great to get a run and to know that you're playing.'

This latest call-up perhaps could be read in the tea leaves as well, for Costello made his Five Nations debut in Paris two years ago. By some distance Costello was Ireland's best player in that record, 45-10 defeat, and so, in a curious way, you believe him when he takes a laissez-faire attitude to this match.

'Yeah, I don't have any problems,' he says. 'I like facing big opposition and generally they probably wouldn't know me, whereas if I play in Ireland I'm well marked. That's a challenge in its own way, but I might get a little more freedom.'

Costello irreverently and regularly punched holes through the French with the ball in hand. 'Well, I'd certainly hope to do the same again, if not improve it, and hopefully the team will do better than the last time. And certainly the signs are there that they're going to.'

Strong provincial and club form has cemented his standing as first reserve to Miller in the number eight pecking order, but this is a chance for something more enduring. 'I've been hanging on the outside looking in for the last two seasons. This year I've been knocking on the door. This is my ninth cap and I'd like to go on and perform well with a winning Irish team. I'd like to take it further and maybe hang on to my place.'

Now 27, Costello comes across as a more mature, level-headed person and, not coincidentally, a much more consistent player. Last year, especially, was tough, and so maybe beneficial. A late developer and a bit of a home-bird, London and the professional game - as opposed to London Irish per se - was not made for him.

'Last year I was playing with a team that was losing and I lost confidence in myself and I lost focus. I sort of wanted to be on every squad, and when I wasn't I lost more confidence. Eventually I wanted to write off the season with two months to go and start afresh. Whereas other international players might have been demanding full-time contracts this season, I was happy enough to go back to the bottom again.'

Ciaran Fitzgerald began the rehabilitation process at St Mary's, 'and then, luckily, I got my chance with Leinster and Mike Ruddock. The structure was that we played a couple of warm-up games and then the European Cup, which was a high level of rugby and I actually did pretty well.'

Costello is something of a throwback to a past era. Heretofore he was perhaps mentally more suited to peaking for a few games per season, but this season has been his most consistent for province and club by far.

'Definitely, yeah, I'm enjoying my rugby. Mary's have been playing well, apart from last weekend obviously, but they're spinning the ball, and Leinster had a great attitude as well. I probably hadn't expected anything and that's why I've been enjoying it as well and playing better.'

Probably only this year could he have coped so maturely with the loss of his father/mentor/coach, Paddy, whose sole cap, ironically, was in Paris. It was of some comfort to Victor that the last time his father saw him play he won the man of the match award for his performance against Milan. Despite this personal loss, from early in the season Leinster men who knew him well were saying Victor had never been happier in a home environment and hence in himself.

There remain doubts about his defence, which a tackle count of three against Canada only exacerbated. 'Everyone has to improve some parts,' admits Costello. 'There have been games when my defence has been great and there have been times when I've lapsed again, but I'd certainly be more aware of it and I don't think recently I've made any mistakes in that area.'

It's likely to be a question asked of him more literally on Saturday.