Ryan backed to lead Irish to Six Nations glory in Paris
James Ryan has been backed to lead Ireland's no- fear brigade in tonight's Guinness Six Nations title chase against France in Paris.
Forwards coach Simon Easterby has hailed Ryan as an increasingly influential leader within the Ireland ranks, tipping the Leinster lock to set the standard for his side this weekend.
Ireland have beaten Les Bleus just 12 times in France, however two of those victories have come in the last seven years.
Brian O'driscoll tasted the perfect Test f arewell with the 22- 20 win that sealed Ireland's 2014 Six Nations title, while Johnny Sexton's monster drop- goal after 41 overtime phases earned a last- gasp 15- 13 victory in 2018.
Former Ireland flanker Easterby endured several wretched defeats in Paris, but believes the new generation of men in green do not harbour any of those Gallic ghosts of yesteryear.
Lock Ryan typifies the new breed's confident bearing, with 21 wins in his 27 Tests, leaving Easterby backing the 24- year- old to spearhead Ireland's Parisian charge.
"James Ryan sets incredibly high standards for himself and for others," said Easterby. "Some of the games we've won, he has come off the pitch and still been hugely disappointed in some aspects, because he has incredibly high standards.
"He's developed himself, and around others, into becoming a really strong, integral part of our team, as a leader both in what he says but more importantly in what he does.
"And I think it's a compliment to James that all the players want to follow him in everything he does.
"He has taken on responsibility with both Leinster and us, and he's taken it in his stride.
"And there's not many places that he'd fear going to, and that's the mark of the man himself, that he's a young man in age but he's able to deliver. At a young age, he's certainly going in the right direction and he's someone that everyone wants to follow into battle."
Beat France with a try bonuspoint this weekend and Ireland will claim their fourth Six Nations title in seven years, and their first under new head coach Andy Farrell.
Easterby believes Ireland will cope with an empty Stade de France given the continued coronavirus shutout on fans, insisting the visitors will put aside all thoughts of that try bonus in order to stand a chance of victory.
"The crowd would have been unique, that's been my experience," said Easterby. "And it will be unique then for the players to experience them not being there.
"There will be players that have been there in the past that have won, and players that have been there in the past and lost. But there will also be players that won't have been there before. And they won't have any hang- ups about the Stade de France.
"It's clearly an impressive place, and when we arrived there, the players that hadn't been there before took it all in. But there shouldn't be a fear factor going there.
"Because a lot of them haven't had the kind of experiences I might have had as a player at certain times.
"It just presents a cracking opportunity for us to go and express ourselves and win a game of rugby.
"And t hen off t he back of that if we need to get certain things out of the game we'll obviously have to do that. But what an opportunity the Super Saturday is set up so nicely.
"I t ' s t aken seven or eight months to get to this point for us, but after the performance last weekend and the work the players have put in this week to get ourselves into this position, I can't wait to see them go out and perform.
"Coming to Paris and getting a win is something that Irish teams haven't had huge success with in the last 20 years. But we saw in 2018 that we stayed in the game and we were able to win the game late on.
"That may well not be the case today, it may be that the game opens up a bit.
"So we have to focus on winning the game first, then after that we reassess probably at half- time on how the game's going.
"The players have full licence to make good decisions on the pitch, and at the right times Johnny ( Sexton) and the other leaders will do that."
Meanwhile, France fly- half Romain Ntamack is relishing pitting his wits against Ireland counterpart Sexton, who he regards as one of his Test match role models.
Toulouse playmaker Ntamack, pictured inset, is at the vanguard of France's exuberant youth revolution, the 21- year- old encapsulating Les Bleus' thrilling and long- overdue resurgence.
The 16- cap attacking pivot seemingly needs little help plotting France's new course, but revealed British and Irish Lions star Sexton as one of his major inspirations.
"He is a role model for me and I believe for lots of players," said Ntamack. "He i s world class and maybe the best fly- half of the decade.
"He proves that every weekend either for his province or his country.
"He is tireless and has enormous experience."
While he is happy to praise Sexton, Ntamack knows full well that France must shut him down in this evening’s encounter.
"He may be a role model for me but this weekend it is imperative I do not allow him the freedom to do what he does best," said Ntamack.
"Above all I cannot stand by watching him and allowing to play, because if I do things will become very difficult for us."
TEAMS
FRANCE: Anthony Bouthier, Vincent Rattez, Virimi Vakatawa, Arthur Vincent, Gael Fickou, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont; Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon ( captain), Francois Cros, Paul Willemse, Bernard Le Roux, Mohamed Haouas, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille. Subs: Camille Chat, Jean- Baptiste Gros, Demba Bemba, Romain Taofifenua, Dylan Cretin, Baptiste Serin, Arthur Retiere, Thomas Ramos.
IRELAND: Jacob Stockdale, Andrew Conway, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Hugo Keenan, Jonathan Sexton ( captain), Conor Murray; CJ Stander, Will Connors, Caelan Doris, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Andrew Porter, Rob Herring, Cian Healy.
Subs: Dave Heffernan, Ed Byrne, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Peter O'mahony, Jamison Gibson- Park, Ross Byrne, Chris Farrell.