Leinster's James Ryan eager to make up for lost time 

James Ryan during the Leinster Rugby Squad Training at UCD. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

James Ryan is aiming to make up for lost time as he targets URC silverware with Leinster before making for Australia with Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions.

The Ireland second row suffered a calf injury at the back end of the Six Nations and only made his return to the field of play last Saturday in his province’s 76-5 thumping of Zebre at the Aviva Stadium.

“A week is a long time in sport,” he said. “The older I get the more I get what that means. It was tough watching on the last number of weeks. You have to soak it up and enjoy what you can and hopefully we have a good few weeks to look forward to.” 

Ryan’s frustrations must have hit a peak with Leinster’s three-point Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton Saints in Dublin a couple of weeks ago, a defeat that added yet another layer to their well of disappointments in the competition.

Five days later and he was one of a dozen Leinster players named on Farrell’s Lions touring party, despite that long period of inactivity. It will be his first trip with the iconic side having missed out in 2017 and again in 2021.

“It was nervy, there were a lot of distractions, reviewing Northampton and then at the back of our mind was the Lions. We did a very good job in terms of a professional performance and focusing on getting that bit right.

“It’s always in the back of your mind and it’s great that so many of us were able to go.” 

One man who won’t be joining them is captain Caelan Doris who suffered a shoulder injury in that Saints game. It has since been confirmed that the back row will spend the next six months rehabbing the injury.

“It’s hugely disappointing for Caelan and the lads are gutted for him. At least some of us have some more rugby to play after such a disappointing couple of weeks. But for him to be out after that game for the next four-to-six months is heartbreaking.” 

The choice of a record 15 Irish players for the Lions engagement came on the back of a Six Nations that threw up more evidence of a national team that has fallen from its peak despite having claimed a Triple Crown.

With Leinster again struggling to get over the line there is even more reason for doubters to have their say, not least after that Northampton game when too many players didn’t fire in a below-par collective display.

“Never mind the scoreline [against Zebre, it was about] attitude and we need to back it up with performances against Glasgow and then in a quarter-final at the Aviva. We have to keep up that standard in the next few weeks.

“When it comes to knockout rugby, you need to be at your very best and we weren’t against Northampton, and there were many reasons for that. We need to be at our very best for the knock-outs.” 

The Warriors travel to Dublin for the last round of URC action just a month after being trounced 52-0 by Leinster in the quarter-final of the Champions Cup and in need of a win to hold on to third place in the table at the least.

Glasgow have lost three of their last four games, including that loss to Leinster. Their only win in that time was a 14-6 away to Zebre. Leinster, on the other hand, have top spot and home advantage through the playoffs, already guaranteed.

“They’re coming in off a couple of losses and they will be fired up, Sione Tuipulotu coming back in is a big boost and maybe they dropped in the league so they have a lot to play for. They want a home quarter-final and not have to go to South Africa.

“They’ll be disappointed with how they performed in the Champions Cup. I’m sure you will get a different Glasgow. We want silverware, so does everyone else. It’s exciting to have a home quarter-final and we want a performance for our supporters to be proud of.”