Leinster have found sweet spot in Champions Cup week, says James Ryan
James Ryan during Leinster's captain's run at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of the Champions Cup final against Toulouse. Picture: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
James Ryan will not shy away using Leinster’s back-to-back Champions Cup final defeats as motivation for Saturday’s third attempt in a row at landing a record-equalling fifth European title.
Leinster face Toulouse, already five-time champions, in the 2024 final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Ryan, who won the Champions Cup with Leinster in his first season as a 21-year-old starting lock in 2018, named on a strong replacements panel for his home province a week after his return from a three-month bicep injury absence.
He has been involved in the last two seasons’ successive losses to La Rochelle and although he also recognised there is plenty to inspire both teams with Leinster having scored two semi-final wins over Toulouse in a row on their path to the last two deciders, Ryan said: "You do, you do use it as motivation, yeah. It hurts to lose big games and, so, I'd be lying if I said we don't use it and it doesn't come up.
"At the same time, Toulouse won't be shy of motivation because we've beaten them the last two years in this competition. They've won five Champions Cups, it's hugely important for them as a club too, so you've two highly motivated teams."
Ryan, 27, did not agree with team-mate Robbie Henshaw’s recent description of Leinster’s relationship with the Champions Cup.
"Obsessed? I'm not sure that's the right word.
"We've a huge ambition to win every year and to win the URC as well. That's a competition that's a lot tougher to win now than it has been.
"This competition has always had a huge importance to us.
"It's getting the balance right, it obviously means so much but in the week of a big game, a final, you need to find the sweet spot and you don't want lads so in their own heads about it and overdoing it.
"You want lads to be able to enjoy a week like this, enjoy the occasion, it's just getting the balance right.
"I feel like we got it right this week, so we're ready to go."
So too is the second row and co-captain, who returned from the bicep injury he sustained during Ireland’s title-winning Six Nations campaign in early March to lead Leinster in their URC loss at Ulster last weekend but has now lost his starting place to Cullen’s chosen combination of Joe McCarthy and Jason Jenkins.
"It wasn't a huge surprise to me,” Ryan said. "I've just been delighted to play last week and be in the mix this week as well.
"In terms of my prep for the week, it's the same this week as every week whether I'm starting or on the bench, it's just about earning the right in terms of my preparation to go out and perform and Saturday.
"I'm delighted to get back training and playing last week and to be involved this week is amazing.
"My job is to deliver a performance off the bench tomorrow for the team and hopefully I can do that."
No.8 Caelan Doris will captain Leinster at Tottenham while Ryan’s co-captain Garry Ringrose misses out once again through injury. The outside centre took part in Leinster’s eve of match training session on the Tottenham pitch on Friday morning and Ryan said Ringrose has continued to contribute to the team preparations despite his own disappointment at being sidelined.
"He's playing a big role, it is gutting for him. He's had a tough season, but he's been on water the last few games and he is just huge in being such a smart player, some of the messages he's been getting on to the pitch defensively will be vital for us.
"Yeah, he's a big character in the group. It's very disappointing that he's not involved, but hopefully we get him back out there because we miss having him out there."
Ringrose will be in the grandstands of this 62,000-seater Premier League ground of the football club he supports and part of what is expected to be a 20,000-plus group supporting Leinster. Ryan is hoping they contribute to an eagerly-anticipated rugby occasion.
"I think Leinster v Toulouse is always a great game. Somebody told me last week that Leinster and Toulouse have never met in a final, so I think it'll be a great game to watch.
"Hopefully, it'll be a good game to play.
"Getting to play here, it's an amazing stadium and I've no doubt there will be an unbelievable amount of Irish support as well.
"So, we can't wait. These are the games you want to be involved in. We're unbelievably excited."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
