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The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Everyone has an opinion' – James Ryan fed up with outside noise ahead of URC semi-final against Glasgow
LEINSTER lock James Ryan insists the Blues are blocking out the noise ahead of Saturday's URC semi-final against Glasgow. The 2 James Ryan is not fussed about outside noise ahead of Leinster's clash vs Glasgow 2 Leinster face Glasgow tomorrow in a crucial semi-final clash in Dublin The Ireland lock was speaking as Leinster faced media and fan backlash after another year of European heartbreak after being heavily fancied to win the premier club rugby competion. But Ryan insist the don't care about the nay sayers as their primer focus in now firmly on the Speaking to the media ahead of Saturday's clash, Ryan was in no mood to speak about the past. read more on rugby He stated: "We're try to ignore it, you know what I mean. Everyone has an opinion now, and that's just the way it is" "For us, it comes back to ourselves. What matters most is what we think as players and coaches as how the games have gone. "We've some of the best coaches in the world at this club. Ultimately we are our own harshest critics..I think. "We've put our hands up - the performance wasn't good enough - especially against Northampton. But we have to move on now, we're into knockout rugby. Most read in Rugby Union "Now it's just about getting excited about this week, playing at home in a semi-final. "If you told us in July that we'd have had a home semi, we'd have bitten your hand off. So, the guys are excited to get going again." 'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants' Meanwhile, Lions duo Josh van der Flier and Hugo Keenan are absent for Leinster tomorrow. But boss Leo Cullen insisted that both are okay for the Lions, and could resume training next week IF Leinster can secure a final date at Croke Park. Josh Van der Flier limped out of While full-back Hugo Keenan has a slight calf issue that flared up during the week. And that meant
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Renewed James Ryan ready for final push for URC glory
Whether or not some Leinster players, management or, indeed, their fan base might be suffering a post-Champions Cup hangover, James Ryan is probably in a relatively better place than most. Due to a calf injury sustained when training ahead of the Round 16 tie against Harlequins, Ryan's five-week absence concluded with that painful defeat to Northampton. While that must have been a frustrating watch, Ryan's energy for their last two hard-earned wins has been striking. Further reflecting his mindset, Ryan puts a positive perspective on Leinster's season ahead of next Saturday's URC semi-final against the reigning champions Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 2.45pm). 'Back in July, if you had told me we'd have a semi at home, I might have bitten your hand off.' READ MORE Not that Ryan was sugarcoating his team's quarter-final win over the Scarlets last Saturday . Leinster were 'loose with the ball,' he said, adding: 'We should be playing in the right areas in a knockout game and then discipline as well. I gave away two penos myself and access into the game. So, a bit of a mixed bag.' Yet he hopes that might be more beneficial than a Leinster walk-in-the-park. 'In knockout games more often than not things don't go your way, you know what I mean? Because the opposition have their own plans. They've got stuff up their sleeve. I think you get more out of a win when you have to grind it out then when it comes too easy, and it'll be the same this week. They'll have their own plans and it's not gonna be easy. 'With knockout rugby it's not about who scores four tries or who plays better, it's who wins the game. If you win it by point, great.' Ryan describes the Glasgow side which extended Leinster to a 13-5 win in the URC five weeks ago as 'a completely different team' from the one beaten 52-0 three weeks previously in the Champions Cup quarter-finals. 'The ruck and the physical parts of the game for me was like Test match standard,' said Ryan, also citing Glasgow's impressive win over the Stormers last Friday. 'I don't think they'll fear coming to Dublin. I think they like going away,' he added, pointing to last season's semi-final and final wins away to Munster and the Bulls. 'They'll be pumped and we'll have to be at our very best. Defensively, they looked like a team that want to play for each other whatever it takes. I think there is a good sense of identity in that club. We're excited, but we'll have to be very good to beat them,' said Ryan, also referencing Glasgow's lineout drive ('the best in the URC last season') and counter-attacking threat. James Ryan being announced as part of the Lions team. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho The day after Leinster's URC win the Leinster and Glasgow contingent travelled together to London for 'messy Monday', ie the Lions' administration day, which he admits was 'a weird dynamic' but also an enjoyable one. Being named in the Lions' squad, after missing out four years ago, had been a mighty relief. 'It was amazing, very surreal, to be honest; a bit of a dream come true. It felt a bit like making my first cap for Ireland all over again. 'I knew it was a big deal but I didn't expect to receive as many messages. It just struck me that: 'God, it's a bigger deal maybe than I even thought'.' He watched and waited as the names were read out alphabetically at home with his mother Clare and younger brother David. 'It was nice to share the moment with them, jumping up and down a bit, shouting and stuff.' His family will travel to Sydney. Back in the 1980s, Ryan's mum and her cousin Paula went to Australia where Paula stayed and married Mario Sindone, with whom she had three kids. 'I tried to sort of park it then for a while just because you owe it to the lads in here to be at your best and I always feel like I function best when I'm 'all in' wherever we are, whether it's in Leinster or it's Ireland 'It was amazing and it's great to know it's there, but I've sort of let it go a little bit as well.' Knowing Ryan, you believe him too.
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Leinster vs Glasgow: Will the real Warriors please stand up
Leinster thrashed Glasgow Warriors 52-zip in the Champions Cup quarter-final at The Aviva on April 11. Yet they were posed significant problems five weeks later on May 17 when beating the same opposition 13-5 in a close-run encounter at the same ground. Leinster's James Ryan concedes that his side, when it comes to Warriors this Saturday, expect to see the 'test match standard' May performance not the back-tracking April outfit. 'They were a completely different team when they played us a couple of weeks ago versus when they played us in the Champions Cup," he says. "I felt that in that game when they came to the Aviva a couple of weeks ago, in terms of the ruck and the physical parts of the game, for me it was like test match standard - that was the level. "They had an impressive win again on the weekend against the Stormers. They won't be the side that came a few weeks ago in the Champions Cup. They'll be a much better side. "I don't think they'll fear coming to Dublin, I think they like going away. You saw when they won a semi-final over in Limerick last year. Went away and won against the Bulls obviously as well." There is no doubting their ability on both sides of the ball. "You can see that when they play, they have a number of different threats 'For us as forwards, their line-out drive was the best in the URC last season. Our maul defence is going to be huge this week. Making sure we've got clarity there, so we can bring the right intent. "Then also off counter-attack, off any loose ball, they're very, very good. They've got a number of guys that are quick. "Our connections defensively there, our kick chase, it's all going to be huge for us. There's a number of areas across the park we're going to have to be just very good in a number of areas.' Moreover Glasgow are twice URC champions, 2014/15 and 2023/24, and they are able to play with confidence in their championship-winning ability. "They do. They played against us a couple of weeks ago and I watched them this last weekend, particularly defensively. "They looked like a team that are pretty together and they want to play for each other whatever it takes - that is sort of their mantra. "I think there is a good sense of identity there in that club." Ryan is delighted to be back playing, has got three games under his belt since returning from a calf injury sustained in training directly following the Six Nations. "Yeah, it's never ideal timing wise," he says, conscious of missing the Champions Cup defeat to Northampton particularly. "It was a bit frustrating to miss the block that I did but it is what it is, not a good time but I was able to work with the physios at Leinster, they did a great job. "So I felt like I came back and there wasn't a big leap between what we did in terms of our S&C and and then the actual match intensity so that when I came back, basically, I felt like I was fit and good to go. "It felt good and it's been good to get back the last few weeks." It was a lay-off that meant Scarlets last week was his first knockout game of the season, one he agrees was a little 'mixed' performance-wise. "I thought we started well, first 15/20 minutes then I think we got a bit loose for the second part of the first half. "Loose with the ball for us, you know, we should be playing in the right areas in a knockout game and then discipline as well - I gave away two pnos myself and gave them access into the game so it was a bit of a mixed bag. I think we were unlucky not to score at the end of the first half, it could have gone to 21-5 but instead they picked it up and ran the length and it all of a sudden became 14-13 and was a close game at half-time. "We showed decent composure in the second half to sorta grind out a win." But then knockout games are there to be won, there are no second prizes, the key is the scoreboard, get ahead, stay ahead. Is this concern at all, the form or the performance or a worry? "I think in knockout games more often than not things don't go your way because the opposition, they have their own plans and ideas and they've got stuff up their sleeve and they want to put you off. "I think you get more out of a win when you have to grind it out then when it comes to easier and it'll be the same this week against Glasgow, they'll have their own plans and it's not gonna be easy. "So with knockout rugby it's not about who scores four tries or who plays better, it's who wins the game and so if you win it by point, great." His boss Leo Culen had described this as winning 'ugly' and being enough. 'I think so, and I hope so. That's probably something we can be better at, being able to win those games 'ugly' "I think you'd get more out of a game like that where you're coming in at half-time and the game is very much up in the air and you have to chat and think about the second half and what's going to work and what's not been working and what you decide to do. "You do get more of it. You learn more than a game, as I said, where it comes a little bit easier to you. "Back in July, if you had told me we'd have a semi at home, might have bitten your hand off, so delighted. "We are Looking forward to this week now, a semi-final at home, we are excited as a group, they'll be pumped and we'll have to be at our very best, be very good to beat them.'
Irish Independent
03-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
James Ryan speaking ahead of Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
Leinster lock James Ryan speaking ahead of his side's United Rugby Championship semi-final against Glasgow Warriors.
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Ireland and Lions star reveals hidden talent as he opens up about his passion and family history
IRELAND star James Ryan has revealed a hidden talent that may serve him well after his playing days come to an end. The Leinster lock was recently named in the Lions squad by Andy Farrell for this summer's tour of Australia. Advertisement 2 Ireland star James Ryan spoke about his passion before revealing his family's deep history 2 James Ryan is announced by Board Chairman Ieuan Evans during the British & Irish Lions Squad and Captain announcement for the 2025 Tour of Australia The 28-year-old Ryan revealed that he has a huge passion for Irish history, due to family links. He said: "I've always been very interested in history and politics, yeah. "Could it be a life after rugby... I highly doubt it yet - never say never - but..." Advertisement read more on rugby Ryan went on to add that five members of his family took part in nationalistic activities during Ireland's fight for independence. James Ryan's family history is deeply woven into the fabric of Ireland's revolutionary and political past, incredibly stretching far beyond the rugby pitch. His great-grandfather, Dr James Ryan, played a prominent role in Ireland's struggle last century. Ryan's family connections don't stop there. His great-grandmother, Mairin Cregan, was a writer and a committed member of Cumann na mBan, the women's auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union The broader Ryan family also included revolutionary women such as Nell Ryan, who was arrested and went on hunger strike for anti-Treaty activities. James also revealed that he was asked to do a presentation to Ireland players on the history of 'Ireland's Call'. 'That time of year again' - Peter O'Mahony's captivating garden update includes hilarious tip for parents He added: "The difference between Ireland's Call and Amhrán na bhFiann is that Ireland's Call was intended to be inclusive for the whole island. "Particularly guys from the North - they come from different backgrounds, whether that's Unionist, Nationalist, and so on... Ireland's Call is meant to represent all of them. Advertisement "So we did a little bit on that, and I think off the back of that, people probably appreciated the song a little bit more."
