Donnacha Ryan ‘in Zen mode’ as Ireland opportunity knocks

You could forgive Donnacha Ryan for imagining he might never play for Ireland again. What with senior citizens enquiring as to the progress of his retirement and farmers suggesting remedies for lame cows, the Munster forward has had plenty of opportunity to think long and hard about his future in the sport.

Yet now Ryan has a different sort of a chance, of making the grade in Joe Schmidt’s squad and clambering on the plane to next month’s World Cup.

Yesterday the versatile forward was named in Ireland’s second row for tomorrow’s opening preparatory Test against Wales in Cardiff, his first selection since Declan Kidney handed him his 28th appearance in Italy in March 2013.