Jamison Gibson-Park reflects on 50th Ireland cap in 'scrappy' Six Nations win over Wales

Emotions soared and tempers flared in the Celtic clash, with Gibson-Park quick to acknowledge how his half century was quite the tense affair. Speaking after the match at the Aviva Stadium, the halfback gave credit to Wales for pushing Ireland to their limits, in what he and his head coach Andy Farrell have both called a 'proper test match'.

"I suppose it was a little bit scrappy wasn't it?" Gibson-Park said. "But, ultimately I think a win in the end and a bonus point was what were looking for. we have to hand a bit of credit to Wales, they were pretty good tonight and stuck it to us like we knew they would and made a proper Test match out of it."

One of the more laid back members of the Ireland changing room, Gibson-Park admitted how he was not one to get swept up in the circumstances of his 50th cap. However, the 34-year-old did not down-play just how much the moment meant to him, as he celebrated the occasion with his family at the Aviva.

"I wouldn't be a massive fan of all the goings-ons, but it's part and parcel of hitting a milestone and I understand it's important to acknowledge. But to your question, I'm hugely grateful man to chalk up 50 caps. I was nearly 29 when I debuted for Ireland, so had you asked me then how it was all going to unfold, I really had no idea. So I'm pretty grateful to get to this point, for sure."

"I love it man [celebrating on the pitch with his family]. It's pretty funny, I copped a bit of slagging, like they probably spend as much time as I do out on that pitch, but it's great man, I love it. When I finish up and look back I think they'll be memories I cherish, so I'll lap it up every time we get to do it."

Gibson-Park was surprised ahead of the match, as his family linked up with the Ireland team to put together a heart-warming video to wish the scrum half luck upon his milestone match. "No, I didn't know it was coming!" He revealed.

"Normally I get ready to go into camp at about 3 or 4 o'clock after the day off. And my wife and the kids were leaving at the same time with Irish jerseys on and I was like, there's something fishy going on here. Then the following day I was shown the video, and I was certainly caught on the hop, I didn't know it was coming and for sure, it was pretty emotional seeing it."

Looking back upon the start of his journey to a half century of international appearances, Gibson-Park never once thought that he'd reach this milestone when he first arrived in Ireland. The scrum half left New Zealand Super Rugby club Hurricanes back in 2016, for a new lease on life with Leinster. Four years later, Gibson-Park made his Ireland debut, despite fierce competition within the scrum half pecking order.

"Well I don't think I was in the international picture, to be honest with you. I didn't play until after four years, I was qualified [to play for Ireland] after three, so it didn't really matter."

"Conor Murray was at his best at that stage, [Kieran] Marmion was around, Lukey [Luke McGrath] was in the mix. There was a few good nines already and I probably wasn't getting the game time really to push for a spot. So, it just so happened that I suppose towards the Covid year and throughout the Covid year I played a bit and got a chance."

Gibson-Park admitted how when he was making his first few international caps, he was just 'happy to be there', in what he admitted to be not the best attitude for the Test match stage. Then as the opportunities continued, and the scrum half began to accrue a collection of Ireland caps, his attitude would change.

"Exactly. I suppose not a great mindset looking back, but I didn't really think I was in the picture for a while and then got a chance, and I suppose at that time we were probably struggling as a team as well, trying to gain a bit of momentum and get things going.

"I suppose things clicked a little bit in November of 2021 and that was where it really took off, but when I first got in I was just pretty stoked to be in the mix and be in the environment and be around the calibre of player and the calibre of coach. I was probably just happy to be there."