'Sheriff' James Ryan: Ireland utilising the down time well

With a squad of which more than half of those players have never toured before, the traditions of touring must be passed on and with it the importance of being a 'good tourist'

Big talk: James Ryan during an Ireland media conference at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. 'If anyone’s late or any mishaps, they get punished pretty severely actually'. Pic: by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

It is four years since Ireland last embarked on a three-Test series overseas and even for those who were on that 2018 tour to Australia, being back in the air and on different soil for a lengthy period of time requires some acclimatisation.

Thankfully for the older brigade there are some touring traditions, despite the interjection of the Covid pandemic, that have remained intact and been revived on this trip to New Zealand.