The Ryan rebound: 'It's taken me a while to get my confidence back'

Giant lock is now back on top, nearing a half-century of caps on 46, and a central figure in Ireland’s greatest success as a rugby nation at Wellington’s Sky Stadium last Saturday.

Not for stopping: Ireland’s James Ryan readies for a meeting with Brodie Retallick of New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland

FOR a player whose Test career started with unprecedented success, there was always going to be a drop off. Maybe that's what made Ireland’s Test series win over New Zealand all the sweeter for James Ryan.

The Irish lineout leader was only six weeks past his 21st birthday when Joe Schmidt handed him his international debut against the USA in July 2017, two months before his first senior start for Leinster.