IT’S NOT ALL BLACK
Red Ryan sees plus side of Barrett arrival
MUNSTER star John Ryan argues that non-leinster fans have got it wrong about the sensational signing of Jordie Barrett.
The feeling outside the Blues camp is that the All Black’s seven-month stay with Leo Cullen’s squad of internationals from December will push Leinster further clear of the chasing pack.
But Ryan said: “You can paint that a lot of different ways. I think people are looking at that picture totally wrong.
“You’re looking at a player leaving New Zealand and not going to Japan or France but coming to Ireland.
“Obviously he’s got some roots there but it’s a move that makes sense and also it says ‘Right, we’ve got a world-class guy in his prime, not an All Black who’s finishing up and leaving his international career behind him’.
“This is a sabbatical he’s taking to come and play in Ireland, which is a huge compliment to rugby in this country.”
Leinster’s Jamison Gibson-park had moved to Dublin by the time Barrett joined his old club Hurricanes.
A keen student of the 27-year-old’s game, Gibson-park smiled when it was suggested his own position is safe – Barrett has played across the backline for club and country, apart from at scrum-half.
He said: “Yeah, well, hopefully but you never know.
“I would’ve known Jordie a little bit, I played against him and met him a good few times, played with a couple of his brothers over the years. He’s a serious talent, it’s hugely exciting.
“It’s not like he’s at the end of his career, he’s smack bang in the middle of it and flying it so he should be a huge addition.
“He’s embedded in the way that the All Blacks do things so he may see things differently to us.
“So it will good to get that different perspective and hopefully grow us as a team.”
Meanwhile, Munster’s Ryan says he’s pleased for former Reds team-mate Tyler Bleyendaal, who is also joining his province’s arch rivals from Hurricanes.
The 33-year-old is coming to Dublin in the summer as Andrew Goodman’s successor as attack coach.
“It’s huge for him,” said the prop. “He’s a relatively young coach but I know his calibre as a player.
“He unfortunately had a lot of injuries with us but the minute he came into us you could see he had that leadership.
“And it was beyond leadership. He was nearly contributing to the coaching.”
BANK of Ireland has announced five-year extensions of its sponsorships of the four Irish provinces.