Opportunity knocks for Leinster’s Dominic Ryan

Gonzaga College churn out far too many senior counsels for their rugby professionals not to have a decent grasp of oratory as well.

The master plan was to interview Dominic Ryan when he was about to be named in the Ireland backrow. That this could still be sooner rather than later remains an uncertain wager. But his confidence was so refreshingly honest this week it showed why he was the natural choice to captain Leinster A to the British and Irish Cup last season.

Still, his game time statistics have been terrible. Strain followed by tear slowed the progress of a flanker who was compared to Schalk Burger when belting into opposing schoolboys back in 2008.

In the 2010/11 campaign he played 23 times for Leinster – including a cracking European tussle down in Clermont – before dropping to 12 caps (eight starts) in 2011/12. Then seven starts. Then a measly five last season (with 12 appearances off the bench).

Ryan is only 24 so at least time hasn’t yet passed him by. Only problem was others had. Until now. Starting the opening three games of the Pro 12 is a milestone achievement for him.

Any doubt

Jordi Murphy, Shane Jennings and Sean O'Brien are injured while Kevin McLaughlin and Dan Leavy have also struggled. Ryan, finally, is fit.

“I never had any doubt if I stayed injury-free that I was going to be in contention for a starting place in the team. The last time I got a decent run of games was fecking four years ago. It’s about being fit every week. I see myself as a starting player.”

What happened?

“The main issue for two seasons in a row is I had an ankle injury called syndesmosis. It was never operated on, it should have been operated on, it wasn’t both times. It took me 14 weeks to get back as opposed to the lads who got back in eight to 10 weeks – 14 weeks, when every week is huge in this industry, put me on the back foot.”

Say what you like to a coach, especially a new coach, lift like Samson in the gym, but if he can’t see you on the grass you are dead to him. That’s the industry.

“Last year certain players got ahead of me that I had been ahead of prior to that. It was just about fighting my way back into it.”

Mental side

Did you lose confidence? “Your mental side of things is something you can work on when you are injured. Confidence comes from playing so it is tough. You don’t lose confidence but you don’t gain any.”

Basically, he kept faith in himself. Got himself bigger, faster, stronger.

“I want to stay fit. Be available for selection every week. That’s my short-term goal. If I could stay on the pitch, be injury-free, the rest would look after itself. I’m not worrying about the contract.”

The contract will be renegotiated with Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson and Guy Easterby in the coming months. The injuries have probably weakened his market value but, and that remains a significant but, it could be strengthened considerably after tonight. Ryan wears number seven tonight against Cardiff. So does the Lions captain Sam Warburton.

“I know what I am capable of doing once I am fit. I believe that’s up there with any of the other players in the country in my position. That’s what motivates me when I am off the pitch. It’s frustrating seeing lads in your position getting ahead of you, maybe knowing it could have been you if you were fit.” It might be his turn.