HE MAY GO up against former Lions tourists every day in training, but that doesn’t mean Rhys Ruddock isn’t going to measure himself against Sam Warburton when Cardiff visit the RDS tonight.
Ruddock has played against the former Lions captain before, but since both are flankers who like to work at the breakdown, it is a battle that Ruddock is looking forward to.
“It is a nice challenge going up against someone with his pedigree,” Ruddock said.
“He is the kind of player that you don’t like to go up against often because he is really strong over the ball. He poses a threat at every breakdown that he is near and he is a bit of a nuisance in that sense. It is good to test yourself against those kind of guys and we pride ourselves in that area of the game too.”
Sean O’Brien will miss tonight’s game, and the marauding flanker is also a doubt for Leinster’s game against Munster and possibly their opening European encounters too. The absence of O’Brien will open up opportunities for Ruddock – both to carry more ball and possibly in Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad – but he isn’t focusing on the benefits that the Tullow Tank’s injury might give to him.
“I wouldn’t have that kind of thought process going into it but inevitably you will find yourself doing a bit more of the carrying because Sean is someone that tries to get the team going forward and he does that very well,” Ruddock said.
“Often it would be shared out and he would get the most ball in his hands while now I might find myself with a bit more ball which is nice.
“We play in slightly different positions but it might free up a bit of space [internationally]. To be honest, we are hoping to have him back as soon as possible because he is such a big part of the way we play for both Ireland and Leinster.”
Dominic Ryan has enjoyed his first uninterrupted spell in the Leinster side for some time and Ruddock is delighted for his old underage teammate. While Ryan may be getting a more prominent role in the team because of injuries to others, Ruddock still thinks that the openside has made the most of his chance.
“I think he has done very well,” Ruddock said.
“I played with Dom for many years at u20′s and I like playing alongside him. He has gotten an opportunity and taken it with both hands and I don’t think he has done anything yet to deserve the jersey being taken off him. I think he has shown some progression in the last few games.”
Leinster’s early season woes of the last few seasons have been repeated again this year, with the province dropping two of their first three league games. Ruddock is just itching to right the wrong of last week instead of dwelling on the defeats.
“Personally, I am not feeling pressure,” Ruddock said.
“I am just excited because last week was my first game and to have such a negative taste in your mouth after it only leaves you wanting to put it right. Playing at home in the RDS is a great way to do it.”
The need for a Leinster win is even more apparent when you see that Munster are next on the fixture list; the game that traditionally heralds the start of European action for the provinces.
You could argue that the reason for Leinster’s recent early season struggles is that many players sub-consciously feel that real rugby begins with the Munster clash, but Ruddock doesn’t necessarily think that is the case.
“I don’t think people consciously think that way because very often when you come into the season you don’t know where you stand,” Ruddock said.
“You just go one game in front of you because you don’t know if you are going to get picked. Why we have started badly in the last few seasons is something that we haven’t put our finger on yet.
“In the past the Munster game has been a turning point in our season when we have started badly. We usually try to carry some momentum from the first few games into the Munster match.”
