Peter O’Mahony: Munster won’t change calls despite Donnacha Ryan’s insider knowledge

Whether you are a coach or a player, Donnacha Ryan is a man you want on your team facing into the biggest challenges, and judging by the uproar when the Ireland lock was overlooked for an IRFU central contract last season, Munster supporters felt the same way.

Less than eight months after Ryan played his last game in red, bringing to an end a 13-season 164-game career in his home province, the painful memories of his departure to French Top14 heavyweights Racing 92 will be revisited when the second row goes head to head with his former team-mates in the sky blue and white of his new club at the U Arena in Paris.

And as much as he is respected in Munster, all of a red persuasion will be hoping his impact on this Champions Cup Pool 4 showdown will not be as emphatic as his talent and current form suggests may be the case.