EASTERBY SURE RUDDOCK WILL PLAY HIS PART

RHYS Ruddock (pictured) could get the nod to go to war with Samoa after taking his World Cup chance against Russia. Ruddock, 27, injected much-needed physicality and dynamism into Ireland’s back row in Kobe and Fukuoka could be his stage on Saturday.

“He suffered a bit during the pre season with a few niggles and didn’t always get through as much work as we would have liked,” assessed Ireland’s forwards coach Simon Easterby.

“But I was delighted for him on Thursday, that he got an opportunity to get the run that he did and he certainly didn’t let anyone down.

“If anything, he stood up really well and he was leading the charge a lot of the time, and you couldn’t meet a better guy for the team. “I think everyone was delighted with his performance and that adds to that conundrum and competition that we’ve got in the backrow which is exactly what we want.”

Easterby admitted that there is an edge to training this week as, after a two-day break, the Ireland squad looks like “a different animal” to the one that lost to Japan and, with a five-day turnaround, struggled to impose their game on Russia.

Ruddock’s performance, however, stood out and Easterby has long known what he’s capable of, having worked with the Leinster star when he was the Ospreys head coach.

“I guess for him, his progress has been stagnated a bit or interrupted through those little niggles,” said Easterby.

“He’s has some major injuries as well but also works incredibly hard to get his body in the right shape.

“I think we’re very fortunate that he’s come into this tournament and shown a real quality on Thursday and that only pushes other guys to step up.

“Rhys has done himself a lot of good with that performance and it got the team on the front foot and he is capable of doing that.”

Meanwhile, Easterby has tipped James Ryan to become one of Ireland’s greatest players.

“He comes across as being quite quiet. But actually he’s a real student of the game.

“He works incredibly hard on the physical element, but certainly also on the mental part of the game.

“He’s just a guy who will continue to grow and will continue to lead from the front.

“I think he will become one of the greats. I’ve no doubts about that. He’s certainly on the right track currently.

“He works incredibly hard. And that I guess is the baseline for any great player – that they have the raw talent, the ability, but they also work incredibly hard. He has all three and he will only get better,” said Easterby.