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'I was struggling to if I was good at rugby' - Cooney

John Cooney smilingInpho

Cooney has been central to Ulster's two recent URC wins over Cardiff and Benetton

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport Northern Ireland

Just five weeks ago, John Cooney was as low as he has felt after any game in his rugby career.

While Ulster's defeat by the Sharks in Durban last month may have seemed to many like simply more of the same in a disappointing campaign, for the Irish province's scrum-half it represented a nadir.

Indeed, he puts it right alongside the serious shoulder injury he suffered in his Connacht days and the twin blow of being dropped for the Pro14 final and losing his Ireland place soon after in 2020.

"If I'm being honest, I found that Sharks game to be the lowest I've ever felt after a game," Cooney said.

"I thought we were terrible. I [questioned] where are we going? I questioned my ability.

"I was struggling to if I was good at rugby anymore, which was probably happening for a lot of players.

"Then I had a hard word with myself, asking 'What do you want? You're almost 34 and you've got another year and a bit'.

"You've got a question - do you want to dissolve into your career and that be the end of it? Or do you want to fix it">