It was no nice shock that the genesis of Ulster’s eventual breakthrough final Saturday evening got here from his field kick, forcing the penalty which culminated in Luke Marshall’s rating.
The plaudits naturally went to Stuart McCloskey, for his reach-around off-load which put Luke Marshall within the clear, however Nathan Doak’s contribution in panicking Connacht into blocking Robert Baloucoune was very a lot a part of this course of as effectively.
From there, the 20-year-old had a fairly respectable sport and ended up amassing 16 of Ulster’s 36 factors which included his fifth strive for the province since debuting in January 2021.
Doak additionally seamlessly slotted in at out-half after Billy Burns departed not lengthy after the hour, simply to remind us that his expertise additionally consists of some very helpful versatility.
That Doak has already been tipped for nationwide honours, courtesy of final season’s breakthrough marketing campaign, is well-known and, presumably, he can additional his trigger by means of the Rising Eire tour to South Africa which now kicks in and takes him out of circulation at Ulster from Saturday’s second spherical assembly with the Scarlets till some level subsequent month.
Former Ulster scrum-half Paul Marshall is nearly as good a supply as any to forged his eye over what Doak has up to now achieved and what might be attained sooner or later.
“The way in which he performs is a lot older than his years,” says Marshall, who retired in 2018 after 12 years at Ulster.
“He reads the sport effectively and is so adaptable.
“However he’s additionally assured and, with out being extrovert about it, he’s simply conscious of his personal potential.
“He’s such a superb kicker as effectively and never solely from the tee but in addition out of his arms.”
Doak’s skills-set in with the ability to operate at out-half has additionally struck Marshall as one other attribute which Dan McFarland might effectively deploy sooner or later, although clearly this can't be finished at Ulster till after the Rising Eire tour.
“That’s an enormous string to his bow,” Marshall factors out.
“Ulster haven’t used him rather a lot at 10 however he’s simply such a cushty footballer and he is aware of the sport so effectively.
“It’s actually good for Ulster that he can be utilized there (at out-half) in the event that they wish to go along with a barely totally different formation from the bench and never carry a specialist 10.
“It’s one thing we clearly noticed (Ruan) Pienaar achieve this successfully at occasions the place he may slot between 9 and 10.
“The truth that there’s somebody who can slip into that 10 place offers Ulster another choice.
“And as a 20-year-old it’s large to have all that,” he states.
How Ulster now handle dropping 9 gamers to Rising Eire might be key to this subsequent interval which may, at worst, embody 5 rounds of URC video games.
“There ought to be gamers coming again this week who have been on the Eire tour (to New Zealand),” says Marshall, “however Ulster are going to lose a excessive proportion of personnel to Rising Eire.
“One or two accidents now may make a giant distinction to them.”
As for going two wins from two on Saturday, Marshall reckons Ulster can obtain their purpose at Parc y Scarlets.
“I believe they’ll fancy their possibilities,” says Marshall.
“In opposition to Connacht, Ulster have been enjoying at tempo with so many choices. If Ulster can preserve that depth to their play, I believe they’ll be very laborious to comprise.”