Ronan O'Gara: Every pair of eyes in the Stade de France was on James Ryan

LEADER: Ireland’s James Ryan in action at the Stade de France last weekend. ‘In more than one respect, I thought James Ryan had a huge game, all around the pitch, working himself to the bone with hard carries and brutal tackling,’ writes our columnist. Picture: Billy Stickland/Inpho

James Ryan is early proof that you don’t necessarily require advanced age to make sound, mature judgements. The Leinster lock is only halfway to 50, but thrust into the Irish captaincy in Paris last Saturday, he was point man for the biggest call of the day, perhaps even the Six Nations itself.

And he got it right.