MY ONLY LINK TO LEGEND PAUL.. THE BIG MATCH NERVES

THE Paul O’connell comparison extends to the dreaded nerves for James Ryan.

O’connell has revealed how nervous he got before games, to the extent he would look out of the team bus at supporters enjoying a pre-match pint and want to be one of them.

“I can relate to that, yeah,” smiled

Ryan, who earned his sixth Test cap during his second 6

Nations appearance on Saturday.

“The night before the game I’m not too bad but certainly on the morning of the game I’m very nervous,“he said.

“The game’s too big not to be very nervous about it – and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.

“Once you get out there it’s fine. The build-up is the hardest bit.”

However Ryan has now been involved in two thrilling games with Ireland in this year’s championship.

So how’s the heart? “It’s not great,” smiled the big second row.

“In that last 10 minutes, I’ve never been so nervous. We went ahead, we let them back into the game. Just very relieved to get the win, really.”

Ryan looks to the manor born at this level but that’s not how he sees it.

“Playing for Ireland is certainly something I had at the very forefront of my mind,” he admitted.

“I can’t remember what was going on in my head this time last year but I would like to think I was pretty focused on making an impact.

“But I don’t think I’ll ever feel at home. Some of the games are definitely a step up in terms of the physicality.

“Guys like Shingler, Navidi, Moriarty, they hit really hard. I’m just trying to soak it all in and keep going forward.”

With O’connell (inset) accessible through his work with the Ireland under-20s, Ryan has had the chance to connect with the former Munster and Ireland captain on a couple of occasions.

“We’ve had a few sessions with the 20s and caught up briefly then,” he said.

“Hopefully down the line I can chat to him for a bit longer.

“He’s just a wealth of knowledge and experience. Everything he says I soak it in. He has been there and done that.”

The 21-year-old says he’s “really humbled” to be mentioned in the same breath as O’connell.

But Ryan says the comparisons are “not appropriate,” adding: “He’s one of the greats of Irish rugby.”