INTERVIEW DOMINIC RYAN: John O'Sullivanon the exciting 20-year-old Leinster talent who has ditched the blond streaks as he continues to make a name for himself

DOMINIC RYAN prefers that any discussion relating to highlights would now centre on his rugby rather than his hairstyle. The 20-year-old Leinster flanker has ditched the blond streaks in favour of a more natural look, a decision that has met with the approval of the province’s forwards coach, Jono Gibbes. The New Zealander has stopped addressing Ryan as “Dominique”.

After offering an overview of Ryan’s excellent try-scoring display in the Magners League game against Glasgow last weekend, Gibbes was invited to appraise the young flanker’s more subdued appearance.

He sighed: “Look, I don’t think I’m too happy about forwards in my pack having highlights. Enough said.” Although, mock gruff in delivery, there would have been more than a grain of truth in the observation.

It wasn’t as if Ryan was impervious to the coach’s thoughts on the matter. He explained: “(I suppose it was) time to grow up, you know. Jono’s happy. He used to slag me a lot, call me Dominique. He says anyone with blond hair (highlights) is a girl; he’s starting to call me by my proper name, so I’m happy with that.”

Appearances, though, can be misleading, certainly so in Ryan’s case. Anyone who has monitored his progress from his schooldays in Gonzaga College through a slew of underage provincial and national teams will be well versed with the thunderous tackling. The phrase “dominant tackle” is a part of coach-speak and Ryan racks up more than his fair share.

He’s not the biggest in terms of physique but it doesn’t compromise the ferocity with which he launches into contact.

Maturity is teaching him the difference between tackling and defending. It would be wrong to single him out as simply a destructive presence. He’s athletic, quick and runs good support lines, as his try against Glasgow demonstrated.

A precocious talent at school he played for Ireland Under-20 in the backrow at 18 years of age and was a central figure in this season’s Six Nations Championship-winning team and the one that travelled to the World Cup in Argentina during the summer.

Ireland endured a disappointing campaign at the latter championship but this merely served to harden Ryan’s resolve. “It was tough, we lost our captain, Rhys (Ruddock), in the second game against Argentina and we had a tough time against England.

“(This is) a different season. You try to wipe the slate and start again and hopefully that’s what I’ve done, just put my head down and put my work in this pre-season.”

The absence of Ireland squad members and an injury to his former school-mate Kevin McLaughlin presented Ryan with an opportunity, which he grasped.

“It was disappointing (against Glasgow) because as a team we had a lot of simple knocks-on and handling errors, things like that. Personally, I felt I played well and hopefully I’ll be able to bring that form through if I’m selected this week.” The team for Saturday’s game against Cardiff is announced tomorrow.

Ryan doesn’t seek any mitigation in the absence of so many frontline players in Scotland, an understandable viewpoint given the opportunities it provides to the rest of the squad.

“He (Leinster coach Josef Schmidt) put us out there because he believes we have the ability to do it. He wouldn’t put us out there if he felt we were going to get beaten. The fact that there were young people (playing) shouldn’t be an excuse.

“We’re all here in the Leinster academy, one of the best academies in the world, so it shouldn’t make a difference.”

McLaughlin demonstrated last season that talent, attitude and work ethic bring rewards. He took his chance, both provincially and nationally, and it serves as a beacon for others to follow.

Ryan agrees: “Kev got his chance last year and he really availed of it. This season especially, with the World Cup at the end of it, there’s going to be a lot of internationals away, the likes of Shane Jennings, Heaslip, probably Seán O’Brien; so that frees up a lot of opportunity for the younger guys. Hopefully this season I can stake a claim.”

Glasgow was a decent starting point.

DOMINIC RYAN

Age: 20

Height: 1.91 (6ft 3in)

Weight: 103 kg (16 st 3 lb)

Position: Flanker

School: Gonzaga College

Leinster 'A' Cap: 1 (v Munster)

British Irish Cup Caps: 2 (v Plymouth Albion, Cornish Pirates)

Ireland Under-20 Caps: 20 (v Wales x3, France x3, Italy, England x3, Scotland x4, Argentina x2, New Zealand, Uruguay, Samoa x2)

Leinster Under-20 Caps: 3 (Ulster, Munster, Connacht)

Ireland Schools Caps: 3 (v Wales, Scotland, Italy)

Leinster Under-18 (Schools) Caps: 8.