Ryan warns plenty to work on ahead of Rome

Whatever Dominic Ryan’s personal fortunes regarding a place in Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations squad, the Leinster and Irish Wolfhounds back-rower was clear there would be plenty to work on ahead of Saturday’s championship opener in Italy.

Ryan was among the Wolfhounds facing an anxious weekend to discover whether he made Joe Schmidt’s pared-down squad for the trip to Rome, after the Ireland A team was beaten 18-9 by the England Saxons on a frustrating Friday night in Cork.

Munster’s redeveloped Musgrave Park presented a new look to the world and there were plenty of players hoping to make an impact of their own as head coach Schmidt and his backroom staff watched their second string attempt to stake a claim for Six Nations recognition.