Ryan & Schmidt On Countdown To Cardiff

Following the successful rehabilitation of a right foot injury that side-lined him for almost a year, Munster second row Donnacha Ryan discusses his delight at returning to the Irish jersey, while Head Coach Joe Schmidt talks about his hopes for this Saturday’s Welsh showdown in Cardiff.

Having sustained the injury against Benetton Treviso (PRO12) in March 2014, the Tipperary lock underwent extensive and conservative treatment. Unable to rehabilitate the injury fully, the following September it was decided that Ryan required surgery and was ruled out of action for a further four to six months.

However, the concerted efforts of both the Munster medical staff and the player himself would pay dividends before the end of the season with Ryan returning to competitive action last March against the Ospreys. The international went on to make seven appearances last season – starting five – including the Guinness PRO12 Final loss to Glasgow Warriors at Belfast’s Kingspan Stadium.

Strong and dogged performances on his return to the field of play won him inclusion in the initial 45 man World Cup training squad in June and the former Nenagh Ormond clubman now finds himself in line to add to his tally of 28 Irish caps.

When asked at today’s team announcement if injury setbacks made him question his international future, Ryan commented, “Without being too dramatic about it I suppose they did, but that makes me all the more appreciative of where I am now – getting the opportunity to play for Ireland again.

“The training has also been very enjoyable, very high octane stuff and energizing. It’s also been great to try different combinations with different guys in the set-up – you feed and learn off that.”

On the task at hand this weekend, Ryan added, “All we can do is prepare as best we can. The first game of every pre-season is always tough. The tanks are emptied quite fast and it becomes a question of mental strength as much as anything else. Guys will need to work well together because, as we all know, Wales are a very strong side, especially at home.”

Joining the Munster-man at today’s top table was Head Coach Joe Schmidt who extolled the virtues of a number of returning players, “The likes of Donnacha, Keith Earls and Paddy Jackson have come back and put their hands up through their provincial performances and in the manner that they have trained when they came into camp.

On his hopes for Saturday afternoon’s warm up game, Schmidt commented, “It would be great to get a good performance, and it would be great for some of the individuals or even the collective to put their hand up. I think getting over there, to a full house with the roof closed, at least recreates what we are likely to have at the World Cup. While the make-up of the team that day might not be the same, it give us an idea of who in this group are ready for that potential opportunity. It’s probably the best examination, but it’s been an examination across the past six weeks really.”

Competition for places from 1 to 15 leaves the Ireland boss with some tough yet welcome decision headaches in the coming weeks. “We’ve had some discussion on when, potentially, we narrow the group a little bit. Over the next week or so that has to happen as we need to start honing the group. Narrowing the group will be tough enough, let alone deciding on the 31 that will travel to the World Cup.”

Wales v Ireland, Saturday 8^th August 2015 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff – KO 2.30pm.

This game will be televised live on BBC Wales.

Ryan is joined by his Munster team-mates Tommy O’Donnell, Keith Earls, Felix Jones, Dave Kilcoyne and Simon Zebo in the matchday 23. Click here to see full Irish team to face Wales.