Not least the most reassuring aspect of Ireland’s series win over the All Blacks, and especially the performances in the last two Test wins, was the sight of James Ryan being back to his imperious best.
Assured in both calling and winning lineouts, including a sharp steal, Ryan trucked up plenty of ball into traffic, made 15 tackles and typified Ireland’s accuracy on both sides of the ball at the breakdown.
After his stellar introduction to the professional game, and senior rugby, in that annus mirabilis of 2018, Ryan has endured some tougher times since with some worrying concussion issues which led to a lengthy lay-off. But that only made this achievement, and his contribution to it, all the more satisfying.
“I think it’s definitely right up there and it could be top,” admitted Ryan in his own inimitably understated way when asked to compare this to the 2018 Grand Slam. “Winning a Grand Slam is so hard to do but wining over here and winning a series over here is seriously tough as well and what probably makes me appreciate it even more is that I’ve had days when things haven’t gone my way or our way.
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“Also it’s been a difficult year too. I’ve been in the game and out of the game, having setbacks in terms of injuries and stuff like that. It hasn’t been an easy season at times but being able to be back playing, be back fit, get a number of games under my belt and finish the season off injury free and with a series win like this, and to enjoy that with such a great bunch of people, it’s amazing.
“So I think it’s up there, definitely.”
There was additional pleasure in playing such an influential role too.
“I’m delighted, just to get a run of games and a run of games injury free. There have been difficult times in the last couple of years because I’ve had setbacks in terms of injuries and stuff like that. It’s taken me a while to get my confidence back.”
“After concussions it takes a bit of time to get your confidence back and physically be ready for it again. But look, I’m feeling good, I’m feeling like I’m in a good position. I don’t want to make it about me but I’m so happy to be involved in such a great win tonight.”
Indeed, to even provoke Ryan to talk about himself is unusual, for he is the epitome of a team player, and that is what he was far more comfortable basking in after completing this unlikely series comeback win.
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“Yeah, some effort. It feels brilliant. I have to say it’s been a great tour. I mean, five games, it’s been such a squad effort. I think particularly when we lost the first game that was a disappointing week. But I think after the game there was a huge amount of self-belief that we played some really good stuff at times and it was just little moments where we switched off and that gave them access and gave them scores.
“It was so good to bounce back and get a win in Dunedin and then the big thing for us is being consistent, not just one-off wins. We got the win and then bounced right back again. Yeah, just delighted to get the win it was class, and to see so many Irish fans were there as well. I couldn’t believe how many Irish fans were there in the stadium after the game. It was unreal, it really was. I couldn’t believe it.
“During the anthems actually you got a sense of how many were there. During Ireland’s Call you could proper hear it. It was brilliant, it really was.”
Ryan agreed that Ireland’s set-pieces worked most effectively in the third Test, which would be a particular source of pride to him.
“We put a lot of work into it, credit to Paul [O’Connell] and to the whole squad really, because even the guys who didn’t play tonight, the guys who weren’t involved, a lot of work was put into the week to test us and to make sure that we were ready for it.
“So yeah it was pleasing, because we didn’t get it quite right in the first Test. We had that conversation and we were a lot better in the second Test and better again tonight. At this level scrum and lineout are so important.”
O’Connell was close to dejected in his audience with the media on this tour in analysing the first Test with typical candour, but in those moments you sensed he’d do everything in his power to help engineer a turnaround.
“He’s an unbelievable coach to be honest,” admitted Ryan. “He was obviously an unreal player but he’s also an unbelievable coach. He’s just so good on detail and he’s such a good motivator as well. We’ve all enjoyed working with him. No doubt he’ll look after the last few weeks and he’ll pick out things that we need to be better at again, and that’s the great thing. We’re being challenged in this environment all the time. So yeah, we all love working with him.”
Johnny Sexton gave credit to Ryan for the call to take the penalty to the corner which culminated in Rob Herring scoring the critical fourth try which, with the captain’s conversion, gave Ireland the breathing space of a two-score lead.
“The drive was going well,” said Ryan of the rationale behind the decision. “It’s just a ‘feel’ thing really. Sometimes they don’t go your way. Sometimes you feel it’s the right option, they get in the air and a turnover, and then you probably get a bit of flak for not taking the points. But sometimes you’ve just got to back yourself and we felt it was the right thing at the time, and I thought Rob did so well to finish it off the back.”
Ryan, like most in the team, did not have family here, and that will make going home all the sweeter.
“Actually I have a couple of cousins who messaged me from the Neale in Galway. A couple of second cousins who flew over from Sydney but I’ve no family here. That’s the only thing, that’s what makes these days special, it’s been able to share those moments with them. It would be great if they were here but look they’ll have been watching on the whole way.”
He is looking forward to a holiday to Italy, with both Florence and Sardinia on his itinerary, before returning for another big season.
“Yeah, and that’s what this tour is about I think. It’s about the next 12 or 18 months, or whatever it is, it’s about building towards that. If you look at the whole tour a number of guys who have been given an opportunity to play at this level, and to build the depth of the squad and all those kind of things, will be good for us.
“So yeah, great tour, and we’ll look at it and be ready to go again in November.”
No doubt he will.
