THE HIGHWAY TO DEVIN
DEVIN TONER predicts high-flying James Ryan will soar even further as he matures – because Toner has taken that trajectory himself.
Now 32, Toner has been in the form of his life over the past few years and puts his upward curve down to experience.
He is 14 years a Leinster player now, and has racked up 60 Test appearances for Ireland.
Toner said: “You hear it all the time that second-rows get better as they get older
– in the last three years I’ve really come into my own more and started playing well.
“I can’t put my finger on why it is. I haven’t really been doing much different.
“It might be just experience, getting to know what does and doesn’t work for me, what I do or don’t do well.”
He adds that playing in an environment were everyone is comfortable with the system is a big help, although a statementmaking victory in Friday’s Champions Cup opener against Wasps left Toner disappointed with line-out gremlins.
“We had a different kind of set-up,” the veteran lock explained. “A new thing has been sent into the refs to look a lot more at the gaps [between the two line-outs] and the lines.
“Our process wasn’t as good as it could’ve been. We might have been messed up a little on that.” It’s a scary prospect to think that Leinster have room for improvement – and similarly that Toner believes that’s still the case for his classy young second row partner.
Ryan, 21, (below) is already a domestic and European title winner with Leinster – he still hasn’t lost a game for the province – and is a Grand Slam winner with Ireland. So what can improve in Ryan’s game as he grows older?
Toner joked: “Maybe his goal kicking! I’m not going to say he’s the complete package. Everyone has stuff to work on – I’m sure he has, in his own head.
“He has stuff written down, his goals and his aspirations. it’s all personal, it’s not for me to comment.”
It is a year since Ryan made his European debut. Asked if he has seen the Dubliner’s game evolve in that time,
Toner replied: “Not really, he’s been brilliant since he started.. imagine how good he’ll be when he’s 30!
“He’s an awesome player. He showed it again on Friday, he runs the best lines ever coming off the scrum-half and he’s able to break that first tackle.
“He’s just always looking for more work. He has a big engine on him.”
POOL ONE TABLE TONER v RYAN THE TALE OF THE TAPE
sparkle fully in his new surroundings, but he is happy to feel his way into his new environment.
“If I try to be Simon
Zebo, I wouldn’t be true to myself. I am confident in what I can do. I know what I can do,” said Haley, who has represented England Saxons but is still eligible to play for Ireland.
“The key thing is not to try too hard. You don’t want to be running from underneath your own sticks when it is not on.
“Simon is a fantastic player and was brilliant for the club. But I am trying to do what I am doing now.”
The Irish eligibility comes about through his Tralee grandmother and her influence was a big reason he chose Munster.
“I’d broken through quite early at Sale and played over 100 games, but sometimes you want to find a new challenge, something to bring the best out of you again, and when Munster come calling, how do you say no?”
POOL TWO TABLE