Penney: Lock Ryan can still be key for Ireland

Rob Penney will welcome back Donnacha Ryan for Munster’s Musgrave Park clash with Zebre on Saturday with the head coach believing the lock could play his way into Six Nations contention for Ireland’s trip to Twickenham the following week.

The RaboDirect Pro12 leaders have not had the Ireland second row available since mid-December when Ryan made his comeback from a knee injury in the Heineken Cup win at Perpignan only to suffer another setback the following week in training.

With Felix Jones and Tommy O’Donnell released from the Ireland squad in order to get game time ahead of Ireland’s Triple Crown bid against England on February 22, Penney will have another three internationals at his disposal against the Italians and he believes Ryan is primed for promotion to Joe Schmidt’s squad if he comes through the Zebre match successfully.