Ryan excels everywhere, especially ‘top two inches'

One more Test and another phenomenal performance from James Ryan as the Ireland lock moved ever closer to taking on the talismanic role Paul O’Connell once performed in the green jersey. This really was a tour de force from the 23-year-old as his team hit the ground running in their 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign.

Ryan played no small part in that bonus-point win and not just with the opening try as he struck from short range to convert an attack started by fellow lock Iain Henderson’s linebreak. The second row co-led his team for carries with 15 and tackles, 14, none of which were missed.