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Michael Scully

Celtic fan James Ryan dreaming of Leinster Final date on hallowed Hoops turf

Celtic Park can wait for James Ryan, who will look around Leinster's dressing-room in St James's Park on Saturday and see many reasons to believe the Blues can conquer Europe again.

Ryan is a big Bhoys supporter and, on Monday, he brought his Celtic jersey emblazoned with the name Tierney on the back to training in UCD.

If Leinster beat Munster on Saturday week then they'll play at the iconic Glasgow ground of Ryan's heroes in the PRO14 final.

"Myself and Rory O’Loughlin are the two Celtic fans here," grinned the Ireland star. "I have (Kieran) Tierney on the back of my jersey, he has (Scott) Brown.

"We might have to bring those jerseys over, if it happens they are there. It's a great venue, but St James’ Park is a great venue, too."

Saracens' Michael Rhodes: 'Leinster are tactically more experienced, more skilled in the air than Munster'  

Newcastle has been the focus this week because Leinster are on Tyneside this weekend, hoping to secure back to back Champions Cup final wins.

Europe's form team this season are in their way - a formidable Saracens outfit that won the final in 2016 and '17.

Ryan said: “What gives us belief? When you look around and you see some of the talent we have, that’s what gives us belief.

"Johnny (Sexton), he's an unbelievable captain and then there's some of the experience we have as well.

"The fact that we did it last year, we can take plenty of belief from that and it has been a steady progression since the quarter-finals.

"And we're going to need a season’s best performance. Saracens are the in-form team but there's plenty of belief there that we can do the job."

Of course others in the Leinster dressing-room will see the presence of Ryan himself as inspiration.

Still 22, he was the province's young player of the year last season and was recently presented with the senior award for this season.

He's had a similar impact with Ireland and, if things go right over the next three weekends, he'll be a back to back double winner with the province as well as a Grand Slam winner with his country.

Not a bad start to his professional career.

The bigger spotlight hasn't bothered him in the slightest. “I wouldn’t say I’m uncomfortable with it," quipped the big second row.

I fact Ryan's rapid development has similarities to the man he'll go head to head with on Saturday - Sarries' Maro Itoje.

"I remember watching his meteoric rise," said the Dubliner. "It was admirable.

“You can see why. He's such a good player. He's a complete second row in many respects, and the fact he's so good over the ball as well.

“He's one of Saracens go-to players. They look to him for generating energy and momentum.”

Itoje is one of a large number of world-class locks that Ryan has already taken on and thrived against.

“It does give you confidence, especially when you are starting off in that first 12 months," he admitted.

“If you know you can go toe-to-toe in a sense with some of the best locks, there's definitely something you can take in terms of belief.

“A lot of it is your own game. I mentioned Itoje, how he’s very good over the ball. It’s probably not something I’m very good at.  

“I’m slightly taller than him and my first instinct would be to barge rather than poach.

“There’s one example where I would look at something he’s very good at, but it doesn’t automatically mean I'm going to do that.”

Ryan is one of Leinster's Ireland frontliners who will still be hurting after England's victory at the Aviva Stadium in February.

Sarries provided the bedrock of that England team.

“The great thing about rugby is there's always a next game," Ryan said. “We had to move on pretty quickly. We ad a big derby with Ulster a couple of weeks after the Six Nations.

"There’s not too much time to dwell on how well the season has gone.  

“There's always something else. You’ve got to be firing all the time”.

Robbie Henshaw delighted James Lowe is in for Leinster's Champions Cup Final bid against Saracens

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