Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IN RUDD HEALTH
Rhys gets his reward for hard work
RHYS RUDDOCK’S gym gains have muscled him into Ireland’s Six Nations squad.
Andy Farrell has named a 36-strong panel for the championship and Ruddock, frozen out since the last World Cup, has earned his first call-up under the Englishman.
The 30-year-old has been in barnstorming form for Leinster and Stuart Lancaster revealed the work that Ruddock has done to earn his place in the most competitive area in the squad – the back row.
In doing so he saw off the claims of emerging Munster star Gavin Coombes and his own Leinster colleagues Jack Conan and Dan Leavy, who were short of game time.
“I think he’s earned the right,” said Blues coach Stuart Lancaster. “Rhys is an example of someone who slightly changed the way he worked in the gym – he has worked on his strength and his power.
“His fitness has never been in doubt in terms of his aerobic capacity, he’d be one of our fittest back rowers. But the work he’s doing in the gym has paid off and his numbers have been excellent.
“In terms of contribution in games – if you look at tackles, breakdowns hit, tackles made and all three together – he’s usually at the top.
“He’s been doing the hard yards and he’s been doing it week in, week out. He just benefited from a good run of injury-free rugby, conditioningwise he’s definitely made a couple of adjustments and he’s earned the right, his leadership has been excellent as well so, overall, it’s a positive for him.”
The opening games against Wales – on Sunday week – and France seven days later have come too soon for Jacob Stock dale as he recovers from a knee injury.
His provincial colleague John Cooney misses out again with the uncapped Craig Casey and recent new cap Jamison Gibson-park selected at scrum-half.
At out-half, Connacht’s Jack Carty loses out to Ross Byrne of Leinster and Ulster’s Billy Burns.
Lancaster is optimistic of skipper Johnny Sexton’s chances of facing Wales despite a hamstring scare at Thomond Park on Saturday.
“I don’t think Johnny is too much of a concern, certainly I haven’t spoken to him, they’re not with us now but I don’t think anyone should be too concerned about that,” he said.
James Lowe is back training after a groin injury and, like Sexton, is already with the Ireland set-up.
But prop Tadhg Furlong, who hasn’t played since February due to back and calf injuries, will start his first game in 11 months at Parc Y Scarlets for Leinster on Saturday night if deemed fully fit.
“Fingers crossed he’ll be involved and if he is, I’m pretty certain that he’ll be into camp next week,” Lancaster added. “It’s been gradual progression, you don’t want to bring him back too soon, you want to make sure he’s 100% confident in himself and ready to go.
“It’s been a long, long time for him but he really looks in fantastic shape.”