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Johnston: So the game starts, you’re on the bench. The first half was tight. You guys went into half time down just a try. Then the second half starts. Early on, there’s a try. Then your captain, Aaron Carpenter, is injured and has to come off. You sub on. What are you thinking about at that point?

Cejvanovic: When I was called into that game, all the pre game thoughts and mental scenarios that an athlete thinks about quickly vanished and at that point the only thing on my mind was to go and do my job to the best of my abilities. Not everything that was in my control during the game went right for me, I wasn’t expecting to play the perfect game but I did want to have a first international game that I could be proud of. I stuck to my basics and did what every forward is asked to do and that is make sure to make your one on one tackles, be effective at the breakdown and get go forward ball for your backs to play off of. I felt like I did two out of three really well, there were a couple of times where I got caught carrying the ball to high into contact and got smashed backwards (lets just say I learned my lesson very quickly!). The pace of the game was extremely fast and trying to adjust to that, as a sub is always difficult but I thought I did well.

Johnston: The final score (52-21) looks like a blowout, but for much of the game, it was pretty close. Now that you’ve had a few days to reflect, what do you think about the game?

Cejvanovic: There were a couple of times in the game where we looked really dangerous against Ireland and were able to convert pressure into points. Sixty minutes gone and it was a one score game, but then Ireland’s experience really came out in the last 20 minutes and they were able to do nail down all the little details that helps you close out a rugby game. That’s what top-level players always do, they nail down the little details to make big things happen. I strongly believe that Canadian rugby players can play at that level we just need more exposure to it. Even though we didn’t get the result we wanted I am still proud of the way the boys fronted up and really gave it there best shot against a world class team. We look forward to that opportunity again.