As he walked out of the press room, Montpellier assistant coach Nathan Hines was asked what he made of 21-year-old Leinster lock James Ryan.
Hines, who was a fan favourite during his time at Leinster, puffed out his cheeks. “He’s like Nathan Sharpe, isn’t he?”
116 Test caps for Australia and one of the best locks of his generation, that’s high praise for the young Leinster forward.
Hines is not the only man praising Ryan, who made his Ireland debut during the summer before he had even featured for the Leinster team. Head coach Leo Cullen had nothing but glowing words for the former St Michael’s College and Ireland U20 captain.
Considering it was his European debut, his second ever start and his third ever senior appearance, Ryan did not look a single bit out of place. He stuck every one of his 10 tackles and invariably got over the gainline on his carries.
James Ryan looks perfectly at home bashing into this giant Montpelier team. #LEIvMON
— Jenny Murphy (@jennymurphy045) October 14, 2017
James Ryan has bossed the gain-line against a team of behemoths. As a 21 year-old. On his European debut.
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) October 14, 2017
The other notable about Ryan’s performance is that, up until early Saturday morning, he was not even in the Leinster squad. Scott Fardy had been named to start in the second row, alongside Devin Toner, and Ross Molony was on the bench. The Aussie was ruled out early Saturday A.M so Ryan got a double bump up to the starting line-up.
Following his side’s 24-17 Champions Cup win over Montpellier, Cullen
“James had stood in and done a lot of Scott’s roles [in training] during the week. Ross and Dev are similar players so you need that bit of contrast… I thought James was very strong in contact. He’s a good athlete with a good engine.
“It’s tough trying to take down a lot of those big Montpellier guys but he did well… James has got his first taste of European rugby, which is great to get through.
“He was in early this morning, because of the early kick-off today. But he was in at 9 o’clock this morning, making sure he was clear on his role and everything he had to do, and I thought he did very, very well.”
Up at the crack to be told he would be making his European debut, Ryan was the first Leinster player at the ground – rehearsing the calls and set-plays, and getting his head around a game against the hulking Montpellier pack.
As the season progresses, and Ryan follows suit, we may all look back on this game as the one where Ryan forced his way into becoming a Leinster regular.
Called upon again, he won’t be found wanting. He will have his homework done.
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