Malcolm O’Kelly: James Ryan can be the new Paulie

Malcolm O’Kelly knows a good player when he sees one, and that’s why the 92-times capped Ireland second row is unafraid to compare James Ryan to Paul O’Connell.

O’Kelly battled in the trenches for years alongside the former Munster legend, so knows more than most what he had to offer for club and country.

While he was somewhat surprised to see Ryan make a first Six Nations start in Paris, of all places, O’Kelly was blown away by the 21-year-old who repaid Joe Schmidt’s faith in buckets.