“He and James Ryan are literally unbeatable, for now at least.”
Dan Leavy and James Ryan are coming towards the end of unforgettable seasons for province and country.
The flanker and lock have gone from Ireland newcomers to regular starters and Grand Slam winners. With Leinster, they have become vital to their dual quest for PRO14 and Champions Cup silverware.
Two weeks after they helped Ireland beat England at Twickenham, Leavy and Ryan went up another level again in bringing one brutal fight to Saracens in the Champions Cup quarter final. They combined superbly for Leavy’s second-half try, made some fierce carries and let the Saracens lads know they were in a contest.
You can just see George Kruis wincing [above] as Ryan and Leavy make Schalk Burger pay a heavy toll. That was just a taste of what both men laid on all day for Sarries.
Leinster are favourites to win the Champions Cup and, earlier in the week, bookmakers had them as 11-point favourites to defeat Scarlets in their last four encounter. As if Leinster were back to their best, on Friday, Johnny Sexton replied:
“We’ll find out tomorrow. The first Leinster team I was involved in we got to this stage a lot, let ourselves down on the big days. We had a period of success and last year we were in that first Leinster group.
“We will find out tomorrow if we can take that next step. I think we can, we have got the ability. It is just about performing on the big day now.”
Leavy made similar comments when he faced the press earlier in the week. Aged 17 when Leinster were last kings of Europe, Leavy spoke extremely well on the levels he and his teammates will have to reach if they are to reach the final in Bilbao and go one winning step further.
And while many Irish rugby writers are getting carried away with the potential of someone like Leavy, it is good to see the flanker has caused delirium across the water too. Writing in The Telegraph, former England and Lions star Will Greenwood describes the Dubliner as ‘an Irish rugby invincible’.
Noting that neither Leavy or Ryan have yet to lose in 10 games each for Ireland, Greenwood likens the former St Michael’s flanker to the great Richard Hill. Fourth-choice flankers, he begins, are not supposed to win Grand Slams but Leavy has shattered the mould.
Greenwood retraces Leavy’s Six Nations performances before gushing about his game against Saracens and pondering about him in the gym. He states:
‘There was so much to enjoy: the early physicality to chop Schalk Burger; the discipline at breakdowns to get on the ball and listen to the referee while being smashed to smithereens; the short yardage carries time and again to rock Saracens back, many made from standing starts; the awareness to fight to stay on his feet until the cavalry could arrive and secure the ball.
‘One tackle and counter-ruck had me wondering what sort of weight Leavy could deadlift.’
We’re glad we’re not the only ones.
Scarlets will test Leavy severely at the Aviva Stadium but you can rest assured, he will be giving it back in large dollops too.
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