Humphreys still getting kick out of game

Gerry Thornley talks to David Humphreys who is hoping to emulateJackie Kyle's Ireland record

In his earlier playing days, David Humphreys used to be a little sheepish about his nickname "Jackie". Jackie Kyle, after all, was a legend of Ulster and Irish rugby, talisman to Ireland's only Grand Slam, in 1949. And Humphreys wasn't so naive that he didn't realise it was partly a slag.

Most likely created by his good friend Mark McCall or Maurice Field back in their early Ulster days nevertheless it was also recognition of a rare and innate talent, and perhaps that notion embarrassed Humphreys too.

When he went to London Irish seven years ago, much to Humphreys's irritation, word of the moniker had reached Conor O'Shea and Niall Woods, and then it really took off, despite pleas from him that their coach Willie Anderson never be told.

Again though, as Woods concedes, "none of us had seen Jackie Kyle play but we all knew he was a genius, and Humphs had so much talent. He could do things which the majority of us couldn't."

Even then Humphreys had only won a handful of caps but today, presuming he appears from the bench at some juncture, he will equal Kyle's record of 46 caps as Irish outhalf. "It genuinely couldn't happen to a nicer guy," says O'Shea.

As with his Irish points' scoring record, which Humphreys has inched to 322 points, modesty forbids him from placing too much store by individual landmarks.

"I wasn't aware of it (the record) until the weekend, I didn't even realise I was close, and obviously if I get on, it will be a huge honour to even be considered alongside him. Because of the Ulster connection it is special, and I hope to get on."

He's also the first to admit that caps come cheaper nowadays than they did in the 1940s and '50s.

"I never expected to get this number of caps. Some have been as substitute (15) and there are a lot more games these days, so maybe it doesn't have the same significance. But no, I never expected to get anywhere near it."

As with most gifted playmakers, Humphreys has earned the reputation for being a mood player or a confidence player. Certainly, he could let his head drop if things went against him or, alternatively, if a thing started going well then his confidence could really flow. But then again, isn't every sportsperson a confidence player to a some degree?

Rather unfairly, it took a lot of years for him to shake off the tag of being mentally "flakey". For throughout his career he's risen to the big occasions, be it a varsity match, Ireland A, a relegation play-off with London Irish, an AIL final with Dungannon, Ulster or Ireland. His once susceptible defence has improved beyond recognition.

When he captained Ulster to the European Cup it was persistently pointed out Humphreys was relieved of the goalkicking and restart duties in deference to the prodigious boot of Simon Mason, yet little allowance was made for the ensuing lack of place-kicking when a week after the final he missed a potential match-winning penalty at home to France.

Nor did it compromise his tactical leadership of the team last season, when Humphreys combined restarts, goalkicking, tactical leadership, drop-goals, tries and scoring a phenomenal 210 points for his province in 13 starts.

Besides, a year after that heartbreaking miss at home to the French, he replaced Ronan O'Gara in the second half at Stade de France and addressed an angled 45-metre penalty five minutes from time with Ireland trailing 25-24. He wouldn't have been human if the kick a year before hadn't flashed before his eyes, and it did. He struck it high and unerringly between the posts.

So, when you ask him if he had to pick one of his previous 45 caps, instead of, say, helping to mastermind the win over England a year ago or the victory at Wembley over Wales three seasons ago, he pauses for a few seconds and that redemptory day in Paris is first to pop into his memory bank.

"Because of the history, coming on in France and getting the kick to win, just because of what had happened before," he says, before adding: "that's the one that immediately springs to mind but all Six Nations victories are very special."

In part because of the ankle problem that bothered him toward the end of last season, Humphreys has played ridiculously little rugby of late. Since the end of the Six Nations in early April, he's started just one match for Ireland, against a New Zealand Divisional XV, while playing 2½ games for Ulster this season with four bit-parts in the last quarter for Ireland thrown in.

"Ask anybody who's been on the bench or the periphery of the squad, you always want to get back there. Once you've experienced playing international rugby for Ireland, while you're still playing at the top level that's what you've got to aspire to. So you keep training and travel to places like Siberia," he says smiling. "You want to be involved and to keep playing. Nothing's changed in that regard."

You can't help but feel that even with all his landmarks (he also jointly holds the Irish record for seven drop-goals with Dickie Lloyd and Ollie Campbell) that perhaps we didn't make the most of him, or that his best rugby might still be ahead of him.

Now 31, as a non-smoker and non-drinker he's supremely fit. He also strikes you as more relaxed since returning home. He's now married with two young children. He's also financially quite secure and is a qualified solicitor, though isn't in a rush to start working for a living just yet.

Humphreys is also a very astute reader of the game and Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan reckons he'd make a good coach.

"I don't like thinking about it," he laughs when asked about his future after rugby. "As you're coming to the end you've got to think ahead. It's something I haven't thought about a lot to be honest. But I'd hope to keep playing for another few years. If you'd asked me five or six years ago did I think I'd be playing now I'd have said 'no'. I thought I'd be back working but I'm enjoying it and as long as I continue to do that I'll keep playing."

Besides there's another ghost to lay and more ambitions to fulfil.

"I'd like to play in the World Cup next year. Again, because of the disappointment three years ago we all feel it's something that's been left undone, so to be playing in the World Cup is my main goal. For this season really from an Ulster point of view we've got to do well and hopefully get a chance to play for Ireland again."