Nervous times for Tommy

Tommy Bowe says the next week will be a nerve-wracking one as he wonders whether he has done enough to secure selection for a second successive Lions tour. [more]

Nervous times for Tommy

Tommy Bowe says the next week will be a nerve-wracking one as he wonders whether he has done enough to secure selection for a second successive Lions tour.

Bowe has played just 165 minutes of rugby in 2013 after sitting out much of the season with a knee injury.

He returned to action earlier this month and has since shown glimpses of his brilliance in Ulster’s games with Saracens, the Dragons and Connacht.

The 29-year-old is hoping Warren Gatland will have sat up and taken notice of his impressive comeback but he is as clueless as the rest of us when it comes to knowing if he will make the head coach’s touring party a week tomorrow.

"It's nerve-racking," Bowe told the Irish Independent.

"That's the way it was for the last tour. Last time we were training at the Ospreys and didn't find out until training was over. We find out when everyone else does so it's nerve-racking enough.

"Who knows what will happen regarding the selection for the Lions? I don't know if you can ever believe you have done enough.

"I haven't heard from him (Gatland) unfortunately. It's out of my hands now and I'll just have to wait and see what happens."

Bowe is certainly happy with his own form, however, after he crossed for a well-taken try for the second week running.

The 34-18 bonus-point win over Irish rivals Connacht in Galway was Bowe’s first full 80-minute outing since December and he insists his recent performances have boosted his confidence after an understandably difficult spell.

"I'm happy with where I am at the minute,” added Bowe, who started all three Tests for the Lions in South Africa four years ago.

"I'm very happy how I've come back from the injury. I was out for four months and to get myself back playing rugby again and score a couple of tries is a huge boost. I'm delighted to get 80 minutes under my belt.”

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