That 46-14 defeat at Tokyo Stadium was Joe Schmidt’s final game at the Irish helm and the St Michael’s College graduate subsequently found himself out of the reckoning under his successor Andy Farrell.

Simon Easterby is interim head coach of Ireland for the forthcoming Championship as Farrell focuses on his commitments with the British & Irish Lions, but even though Munster’s Craig Casey is currently sidelined through injury, the former flanker looked elsewhere for scrum-half options.

While acknowledging he wasn’t checking his emails for a potential recall, McGrath stressed he still holds an ambition of picking up a 20th Ireland cap at some point in the future.

“Honestly I wasn’t [checking emails]. I’d love to be available, but it’s been a few years now since I’ve been in the squad. It is difficult. I’m always hopeful and if there was ever a call, I’d love to take it.

“No, unfortunately it wasn’t this year. I just have to keep the head down, keep going and see what happens,” McGrath remarked at a Leinster media briefing on Monday.

Although he hasn’t received recent correspondence from either Farrell or Easterby about his absence from the squad, McGrath did reveal that the former had previously been in touch when he wasn’t named in his set-up for upcoming international windows.

“Probably not in the last year, but Faz has called me throughout the last few years. Telling me I’m not in the squad or things like that. So I have heard a little bit of communication, but not much now to be honest. It is what it is. I have to deal with it, but I have heard a little bit. It was more ‘yes you are in our thoughts’.

“He knows it’s a different phone call, telling you you’re not in the squad. He might say the odd thing here or there. Ask how you think you’re going or what you can improve, but it’s a quick phone call and it’s just saying ‘listen, you’re not going to be in the squad, you’re in our thoughts. Keep the head down and keep your phone on as well, because injuries happen pretty quickly’.”

Regardless of his status on the international front, McGrath remains a valuable asset for Leinster and he is set to make his 11th appearance of the current season when the eastern province take on Stormers in the United Rugby Championship at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 5pm).

Dan Sheehan and James Lowe are expected to feature against the South African side before heading off to Ireland’s pre-tournament training camp in Portugal, but head coach Leo Cullen is having to deal with the fact that 22 others from his set-up have linked up with the national squad to prepare for the Six Nations.

This means McGrath is likely to be one of the most experienced faces for Leinster this weekend against a Stormers side who currently lie nine places behind the pace-setting Blues in the URC standings.

“We’ve a younger group and we need to focus on ourselves. We understand what is coming our way. Similar defensive systems and you see how impressive they are with the ball. [Manie] Libbok is an unbelievably good footballer.

“They’re going to be ready for it, but it is a massive challenge,” McGrath added.