RHYSONS TO BE CHEERFUL
Ruddock peaking at crucial time
RHYS RUDDOCK feels it’s all coming together after a tough period – and would still have felt that way had he not got the nod for tonight’s semi-final at the RDS.
Still only 26, Ruddock has seen serious progress at provincial and Test level knocked back by injury in recent years. He should have much more than 13 Ireland caps to his name. But with Sean O’brien named on the bench after hamstring issues and Dan Leavy missing out, Ruddock capped a good week that saw selection for Ireland’s summer tour with a start in Leinster’s back row against the Scarlets. He said: “Probably more than ever I’m enjoying my rugby, being a part of this Leinster squad and the environment, and over the last few weeks being a part of this team. “If I didn’t get picked or I was on the bench, my outlook would still be really positive. I’d have the same excitement as everyone else about what’s to come. “But the fact I am involved, it’s just real excitement to go and play. “We’ve had a few disappointing results. Hopefully we’ve taken our learnings from them, but we’ve been here be- fore and know what a special place it is to play in a game like this. “So those disappointments are forgotten and it’s just all about the excitement of a massive opportunity.” Ruddock will be in familiar territory when he runs out and not just because Leinster are at home. He knows some of the faces in the opposition ranks well from his time as a novice pro in Wales. While Leinster have a very experienced bench at their disposal, Scarlets will be without skipper Ken Owens, who has an ankle injury, and Jake Ball (shoulder). Ruddock said: “I know Tadhg (Beirne, the ex-leinster player), and a few other guys I used to play with in Wales. “They’re a quality outfit and will feel they can have a good crack at us. “They’ve had some big away performances. Munster stands out. That’ll give them confidence, they’ll expect to give us a good test. “There’s incredible experience on both teams and particularly in the back row, especially from international games and big semi-finals. “We need to learn from that semi-final in Clermont and get the start we want. We have the players to give it a good crack this time.” Ruddock is expected to have a leadership role when Joe Schmidt brings a new-look Ireland squad to the US and Japan next month. “I was delighted to get in,” he said. “I haven’t had any international involvement this year. “Being able to play in big games is the best time to be around. I prefer this to having the injuries at the start! I’m looking forward to what’s to come.” He was an under-20 when he was first called into the senior Test squad, as is the case with James Ryan and Andrew Porter, inset, this time. “I wouldn’t really have any advice because I was cacking myself,” he smiled. “It came out of the blue for me. “Those guys are so professional, the way they train and fit into the environment, so I don’t really see them having any issues. “James hasn’t had a huge amount of rugby but you can see he’s a quality player, and Andrew as well. Two really good guys.”