Ryan aims for perfect end to dream week

Donnacha Ryan had another reason to celebrate last night after signing a new IRFU contract to stay with Munster for two more seasons.

Ryan, 28, Ireland’s man of the match against Scotland last Saturday and nominated on the shortlist yesterday for the RBS 6 Nations player of the championship, ended speculation linking him with a move to Leinster by penning a deal which will keep the lock in his home province until the end of 2013-14.

Without referencing his new contract, the Tipperary native had spoken yesterday about Munster being his preferred choice, having returned from the World Cup to enjoy five starts and a substitute’s appearance in the six Heineken Cup pool games.

“Munster are my club and things are going very well for us this season,” Ryan said. “It was great to go in there [to the team] after the World Cup and it’s home as well and there’s a great crop of young players coming through. So it’s definitely the best club I could be with.”

Ryan also revealed being frustrated in 2007 by his lack of first-team chances behind Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan and considered a move away from Munster.

“A few years ago, I was in Northampton and met [coaches] Dorian West and Jim Mallinder. They were lovely people, great club. The first thing they asked me to do was to go on the weighing scales because I was listed (incorrectly) as 89kg on the website.

“Frustrating times when all you want to do is play. But I changed tack, went to the back row and I learned a lot back there. I’d be lying if I didn’t contemplate it but I’m glad now I didn’t. There would be days when you’d be tearing your hair out that you didn’t but then when you’re sitting here after starting for your country, I’m thrilled to bits.”

With every reason. Having been a bench-warmer for the first three Six Nations games, Ryan was called upon to not just start against Scotland following O’Connell’s knee injury but to take charge of the lineouts. Things could not have gone much better as Ireland opened the scoring with a lineout move executed to perfection, Ryan winning the ball in the middle of the line, O’Callaghan ripping it on touchdown for Peter O’Mahony to peel around from back of the line to front before off-loading to hooker and captain Rory Best to finish.

Not only that, Ryan also stole ball from the vaunted Scottish lineout, the first time Richie Gray and Jim Hamilton had lost on their own throw in this championship.

Dream stuff for Ryan and he will start again this weekend, joining O’Callaghan at Twickenham for a battle with an England defensive lineout, and flanker Tom Croft in particular, that unsettled the French in Paris last Sunday.

“He’s a very explosive player,” Ryan said of Croft, “very agile and smart. So we’ll have to keep an eye on him at the front of our lineout. Hopefully we can secure our own ball and disrupt some of theirs if we can.

“The challenge is to keep as much composure. Gert [Smal, Ireland’s absent forwards coach] gave me a call the night before and just said, the work is done, remain calm, take every lineout in itself and don’t look too far down the line.

“It was grand. I’ve played in front of big crowds before. Against Italy in Dunedin was deafening, obviously an enclosed area. I’ve done it in Thomond Park. I’ve never been to Twickenham but obviously it will be special.”