Unflappable Donnacha Ryan has plenty mileage left in the tank

Donnacha Ryan is, as is often the case, in jovial form as he parks his considerable frame into what looks like the smallest of chairs at Carton House. Just named in Ireland’s second row for today’s Six Nations battle with France, the conversation is cheery and wide-ranging.

At 33, the second row is back to the peak of his powers with Munster and Ireland after a frustrating series of injuries.

He is energised to be playing regularly and hopeful that the time lost when sidelined over the last couple of years has left him with plenty of miles in the tank to keep playing well into his mid-30s.