'Getting better and better': James Ryan hitting sweet spot in Ireland form

Paul O'Connell said James Ryan is "moving the best I've seen him move since I've been involved with Ireland".

James Ryan is set to win his 80th cap when Ireland face Wales in the Six Nations on Friday. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

When Paul O’Connell this week described James Ryan’s current form as being in a “sweet spot” and “great to watch” it was high praise indeed.

That O’Connell is also Ryan’s Ireland forwards coach gives the glowing review even more credence as the 29-year-old prepares for his 80th cap against Wales on Friday night.

After a summer in which the Leinster lock finally earned the reward of a British & Irish Lions Test jersey when he twice faced Australia during the 2-1 series win over the Wallabies, Ryan is playing some of the best rugby of his career, epitomised by his performance in Ireland’s record victory over England at Twickenham last time out as he brought leadership and physical intensity as well as aggression with technical accuracy to a sparkling team effort in the 42-21 win that has kickstarted the national side’s Guinness Six Nations campaign.

Ryan had started the 2026 championship on the bench in Paris, but his introduction at Stade de France with the French 29-0 up has been credited by his fellow replacements as leading the way in an energised second-half fightback to restore some credibility to the scoreline in an otherwise demoralising 36-14 hammering.

Through the eyes of the some-time Ireland captain, he was simply doing his job, embracing his senior status within Andy Farrell’s squad through his efforts.

“I think that's what leadership is,” Ryan said. “It's doing what you say you're going to do and it's leading by actions. It is a cliché but I think that's what it comes down to.

“I think the same goes for all of us. We've had a great plan going into the last three games and probably the first game over in Paris we had a nice plan but we talked a lot about it and we didn't deliver it whereas that's the piece we've got right now, the last two rounds. We've delivered what we said we were going to do.

“It's the same for this week. The England game was great, had a lot of aspects that were pleasing. But the message coming into Friday night is it's just we can't be complacent. We've got to get better again so we're excited.” 

For O’Connell, Ryan is on course to deliver on that demand if previous performances are any guide.

“He's getting better and better,” Ireland’s forwards coach said. “He's had a lot of experiences, whether they're big wins, big losses, getting picked, not getting picked and getting the feedback that goes around that.

“I think he's moving really well. He's moving the best I've seen him move since I've been involved with Ireland at the moment. When you get an injury-free run, that can tend to happen.

“He's obviously had the Lions experience as well where he probably learned a little bit and maybe took some confidence from that. He's done an awful lot of work on his tackle and on the back of that, he's really confident and is able to lead that part of the game in terms of being physical in the tackle.

“He's an excellent rucker for us. I know he clipped Malcolm Marx in the autumn (for a 20-minute red card against South Africa), but his ruck stuff, his physicality at the breakdown, but his technique is excellent as well. His ball carry has improved.

“I think for some of these guys, getting an injury-free run and accumulating game on game on game, getting a break, accumulating game on game, it puts them in a very good place to perform.

“We ask a lot of the players from a fitness point of view in terms of how we want them to run and how we want them to move and how quickly we want them to move there. I think he's doing that better than he's ever done since I've been involved.

“He's got great experience now as well. His lineout calling has improved massively. He's always been an excellent lineout defender.

“It's a real sweet spot he's in at the moment and it's been great to watch him.”

Ryan concurred with O’Connell’s assessment of his physical well-being and movement around the pitch.

“Yeah, I feel good. I do feel fit at the moment. I haven't reinvented the wheel or anything but there's so much competition now at this level, both provincially and at national level, that you can't stand still.

“You've got to find ways all the time to improve your game, to add to your game and that's just what I've been trying to do. I've just been enjoying my rugby and I'm feeling good.” 

That was evident during the opening minute at Twickenham 12 days ago, when Ryan left a calling card on England’s bright young thing in the back row, Henry Pollock, pinning the No.8 to the floor after a ruck as a less than gentle introduction to the 21-year-old’s first Test start. Yet there were also more subtle indications of a player in peak form, both in Ryan’s carrying and an uptick in tackle efficiency.

There is also an intense focus that is underlined by his approach to Friday night’s mission. The win over England has turned thoughts towards a Triple Crown with home games against both Wales and Scotland remaining yet the Ireland forward wants no part of such talk.

“We haven't touched on it at all this week because we're not outcome-based, we're not thinking about titles, we're just thinking about getting better on our performance.

"So all we're thinking about is getting our performance right on Friday night against Wales and getting better at some of the stuff we've honed in on since we've come back in."