MANY WILL FEEL that Rhys Ruddock should be in Ireland camp right now preparing for the clash with Wales in a week’s time.
But for Leinster, there is some relief at having the 29-year-old remain in their set-up.
Ruddock, who will turn 30 next week, has made three starts for his province so far in the 2020/21 season and has been captain from the number eight shirt in their two most recent wins, delivering excellent performances that have set the tone for his side.
Leinster have great depth, of course, but given how many players they lose to Ireland camp, having a leader like Ruddock around at a time like this is invaluable.
“Having Rhys as captain, he says all the right things,” explains Leinster lock Ross Molony.
“He can really rally lads behind him and when he starts a game, he is everywhere – covering the backfield at times, running over lads, adding his thoughts to the lineout and scrum, everything.
“It’s huge confidence for me and the lads in the squad, the younger lads who are trying to see the level that is required. It drives everyone else around him when lads see that.”
Ruddock had been having a very tough 2020 up until his excellent form early on this season.
Having been very unlucky to make only one start at the 2019 World Cup – with two further replacement appearances – despite his good form in Japan, Ruddock was then left out of Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad for the Six Nations earlier this year.
The ever-honest Ruddock subsequently accepted Farrell’s suggestion that his form hadn’t been good post-World Cup but other senior players remained in the Ireland group even without strong form behind them.
Of course, Covid-19 soon struck and Ruddock was unfortunate to be slowed down by a couple of injury niggles just before rugby restarted in August, which didn’t help when it came to selection for the big knock-out games of the delayed 2019/20 season, particularly given Leinster’s back row depth.
Even still, many Leinster fans would have picked Ruddock – a proper warhorse – for the battle with Saracens. His edge and leadership may well have been useful.
Happily, Ruddock is now injury-free and underlining just how good a rugby player he is.
The 36-times capped back row has captained his country and is highly regarded by his fellow players but Farrell has overlooked him for the upcoming Autumn Nations Cup, even with Jack Conan dropping out of the Ireland squad due to a neck injury.
“We think Rhys is a great player, he’s a physical specimen,” said Farrell yesterday
“He’s coming back actually trying to find some form, playing away at Leinster, but we feel like we’ve got some good back rowers in here as well.”
And so, Ruddock will keep impressing for Leinster, playing a crucial role as they look to continue their 100% start to the new season.
“He’s very important as a leader, especially for this group and this part of the season,” said Leinster assistant coach Felipe Contepomi. “He has been great for the whole team.
“In terms of his performances, I’m glad for him because sometimes when you have niggles, one here and one there, and you can’t get it right, it’s frustrating.
“But now he is putting in performances week in, week out and training in every session. That’s great for him and ultimately gives him the chance to be well prepared for those games.
“It’s great to have him around right now with so many young players coming through.”
Dunno how Ruddock is not included in Irish setup. He’s way ahead of POM in terms of strength and attacking capability. Good offloads (on a regular basis) to keep momentum and moving forward.
Ireland truly missing his presence.
@Con Cussed: Central contract keeping POM in, on form he’s no where near the squad but he’ll always get picked.
@Umpaloompa: Wasn’t Toner on a central contract and got dropped for being out of form? In anyhow, I’m not having a crack at POM but rather Ruddock is playing his best rugby at the moment and should get the nod.
When Toner was dropped he focused on his skills and had some great games for Leinster. All players benefit from being dropped, it gives others a chance to be used and gives the dropped player a chance to get their skills level back.
@Con Cussed: It’s extremely rare that a player on a central contract gets dropped. Murray, Best, Sexton, Kearney and POM can all go a long time with no form and were always selected.
@Con Cussed: he needs to establish himself at his province first, he has been working under Smith, Cullen and Farrell and neither of them have back him as a starter when everyone else is fit. POM has a tough battle to get his starting place at Munster back with JOD tearing it up
@Patrick O Connell: I would say he’s fairly well established. As with Cooney, another influential senior player, one can only wonder if his face doesn’t fit with someone.
A few injuries at key times in his irish career have really held him back, a brilliant player and so consistent.
His game v South Africa a few years ago one to remember.
Ruddock and JOD are the 2 inform blindside flankers in the country. CJ and Doris are both deserving of their place but doris is not a 6 hes an 8. Ruddock would have made a massive difference v Saracens, first thing he’d had done was lock down his prop at scrum time.
He is in great form at the moment and leading Leinster from the front. Could be a good addition to the Irish back row options.
I’m a Munster man but have always been impressed by Ruddock; smart, a great temperament, tough, doesn’t make mistakes, a good leader. We’ve so many good back rowers in Ireland though
@Monathan Jeany: I remember when Toulouse came to the RDS a year or two ago with their monster pack, Ruddock was immense. Making it his business to be the one tackling their biggest forwards like Tekori, Kaino, Arnold and Faumuina. Almost pushing guys outta the way to make the hits, wrestling guys to the ground and the rest of the team just fed off it.
Like Conway, Ruddock was one of our few players who was actually playing to their potential in Japan and he wasn’t given a shot at the starting team.
What a disappointment for a player and if I was Farrell I would have made it my business to bring Ruddock in, run with a hot hand and the impact a coach putting faith in you after being let down can be immense.
Never got why he wasn’t a regular in the Irish squad the past few years, has the physicality we lack, serious engine & a good leader.
Must be a reason the coaches haven’t selected him regularly, but no idea why.