The Leinsterman, who is only recently recovered from a 12-week injury, is bidding for a starting spot this week as Ireland get set to welcome France to the Aviva Stadium in the RBS Six Nations.

Tighthead Moore had seemed to be keeping Mike Ross out of the Leinster starting line-up, leading many to believe that the position with Ireland would be his.

However, that has been flipped as Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt picked Ross to start in the win over Italy in Rome.

Moore has said all he can do is his best and sometimes being left out when you appear to be in form is just part of modern day professional sport.

“That’s pro sport, you do whatever you can and decisions come down from coaches at the end of the day,” said Moore.

“I’m just delighted to be in the environment and four months ago had anyone asked me I would have been guessing if I said I would be here. So it’s great to be back in time and to have had those games with Leinster - which gave me that opportunity to play my way into the squad.”

Looking ahead to the weekend Moore hopes he can come up against a pretty big French front row unit, having come on in the second half of last year’s win at the Stade de France.

“I know (Vincent) Debaty is back into the squad this year - and I had my dealings with him last year - so I’m looking forward to getting a chance to right a few things and we know what to expect.”

“A year is a long time and last year was my first year - I know what is coming down the tracks this week.”

“Last year was huge and capped off a great breakthrough year. It gives me confidence going up against any opposition, and coming up against these boys again I have it in the back of my mind what it takes to win.”

Moore added that he knows now what to expect from training camps and what he needs to do to stay in Joe Schmidt’s plans.

“Last year coming into the national squad it was all new and everything was a first with first games and debut’s, so this year I am a little more relaxed.”

“The fact that I was out for so long injured and looking in at it, it’s given me a long time to prepare, ” said Moore.