DREAMER RYAN’S FEET ON GROUND
Cardiff was a light-hearted highlight of that historic time in Irish rugby.
Now the veteran is confident that Joe Schmidt’s charges can emulate the class of 2009.
“You have to be feeling very confident,” he said. “We’re playing some great rugby. I thought Wales were going to give us a real test. Despite how much in control Ireland were, they couldn’t get away and yet they always looked comfortable.
“And with Johnny Sexton playing the way he is and the backline playing off him, we’re looking really exciting and polished.
“But there are two big games ahead. Obviously Scotland did a job on England and will be feeling confident coming over.
“England will be seething and Tommy Bowe and Sean O’brien launched Subway and Club Zero Orange’s Tasty
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playing them in Twickenham will be tough. It’s a difficult way to win the Six Nations but we should be very happy with where we’re standing.
“Knowing Joe and the camp, they won’t be getting ahead of themselves. They’re definitely favourites but going to Twickenham is going to be tough – especially after beating them last year.
“But it’s in Ireland’s hands now. They’re playing some super rugby and I’m hoping to go to
Twickenham to see them lifting the trophy.” JAMES RYAN is living the dream and, in a week like this, doing everything he can to forget that he is.
The second row has quickly graduated from Ireland’s next big thing to Six Nations star and, having made his debut on last year’s summer tour, has yet to experience a defeat at Test level.
“All I ever wanted to do is be a professional rugby player since I could walk,” said Ryan (above).“it has always been the dream for me.
“I don’t know why it was, probably because I wasn’t good at any other sports. I grew up in an era of O’gara,
O’connell and O’driscoll playing. Munster won Heineken Cups. Leinster won Heineken Cups. That rubbed off on me as a kid. I said, ‘I want a piece of that.’
“I was about 6’ 5” as a 15-year old and I started thinking realistically this was attainable., I’m in a very lucky position but I can’t get too sentimental or anything like that.
“In a week like this, we’ve got a huge Test match and, if I lose track of FLYING Scotsman Tommy Seymour is out of the clash with Ireland on Saturday through injury.
His back problem has forced Gregor Townsend into one change from the side that ended England’s Grand Slam hopes 11 days ago.
Blair Kinghorn (right) has been parachuted in for his first start after replacing Seymour with 15 minutes remaining against England.
SCOTLAND: S Hogg, B Kinghorn, H Jones, P Horne, S Maitland, F Russell, G Laidlaw; G Reid, S Mcinally, S Berghan, G Gilchrist, J Gray, J Barclay (c), H Watson, R Wilson. Replacements: F Brown, J Bhatti, W Nel, T Swinson, D Denton, A Price, N Grigg, L Jones. that, I will get myself compromised. I’m staying process-focused.”
He’s been compared favourably to Paul O’connell (inset) and while he lists off the leaders in the team - Best, Sexton, O’mahony and more Ryan says there’s an onus on him to speak up too when the time is right.
Cian Healy has even appointed Ryan as squad DJ for the championship.
On the pitch he’s still learning to live with the pressure. “It’s definitely a step up,” he said. “Everything about it, the build-up to the game, obviously there’s more at stake and there’s more pressure. There’s more expected of you at this level.”