The Leinster flanker had been in Argentina for the IRB Junior World Championships but has cut short his involvement and teamed up with Declan Kidney’s side after Jamie Heaslip was handed a five-week ban and John Muldoon was injured against the All Blacks.

The 19-year-old admitted his inclusion for the senior squad came as a shock, but he is now setting his sights on making his senior first team debut.

“It was a huge surprise to me when Clarkie (Ireland U20 Coach Allen Clarke) came up to me and said that that I had been invited to join the tour,” he said.

“My focus was very much on the next game in the Junior World Championships against Argentina and getting myself and the team ready for that, so this was an incredible honour for me and something I never expected.

“We were unfortunate in our games in the Junior Championships narrowly losing our opening two games against France and England and while I would never have wanted to miss out on leading the guys in the next game, this was just something that surpassed any of my expectations.

“The season went really well for the U20’s with our Six Nations Championship win and I felt I was going alright in terms of my own performances.

“My ultimate aim is obviously to represent Ireland and certainly didn’t think that I would get a call up to the senior squad so early in my career.

“My focus now is just to learn as much as I possibly can and make sure that I don’t let the opportunity pass me by.

“I trained for the first time this afternoon and the welcome from the guys was great. I just want to train hard over the next couple of days and if the coaches feel they want me, I am ready to do whatever they need me to do.”