Leinster lock James Ryan says that the disappointment the team feel over Johnny Sexton’s injury is driving them even more to win the Champions Cup for the stricken fly-half.
The 37-year-old has potentially played his final game for the province after undergoing surgery on a groin issue picked up against England in the Grand Slam decider.
With Sexton likely to retire following the Rugby World Cup later this year, Ryan wants to claim the silverware for his captain and playmaker.
Huge motivation
“Yeah, it’s a big motivation and I was obviously gutted that he’s ruled out. I’m not sure if it’s the entire season now, I’m sure he’ll try and come back as soon as he can,” he told reporters.
“It’s a huge motivation. To be honest, this week is more about getting our performance right and not worrying too much about it. And that’s what he would want as well.
“But hopefully if we go well, that will become more and more of a driver for us because I think Leinster have had many great players over the last 10, 15, 20 years – players that I grew up watching – but I think he’s at the very top of the list. I think he’s the best ever.
“It’s another little driver for us. There’s plenty there, but he has to come into it some way.”
Ross Byrne, like he did for Ireland in the Six Nations, will take the fly-half role in the absence of Sexton when Leinster take on Ulster in the last-16 of the Champions Cup.
The 27-year-old impressed during the recent tournament and Ryan has confidence that Byrne will do an excellent job.
“I think Ross will fit in seamlessly,” he said. “He’s really grown over the last few months.
“He’s done really well when he’s come off the bench with Ireland in some close games and he’s quite like Johnny in a lot of ways. He likes to drive the week, that leadership stuff comes naturally to him.
“We’ve full confidence that he’ll be getting us on the front foot and driving us big time.”
Repeat of 2019 quarter-final
Leinster last met Ulster in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup four years ago where the Dubliners edged to a 21-18 triumph at the last-eight stage.
Byrne also started that day – with Sexton on the sidelines – in a game Ryan described as ‘feeling like a Test match’.
“We were watching some of the clips from it and some of the footage is so loud, and that’s what it’s going to feel like this weekend,” he added.
“I just remember the noise and it felt like a Test match. Those interpros always bring a little bit extra. There are 50,000-plus going, how many teams are going to get that for a last 16 game.
“The whole occasion is going to be cool. They’ll be hugely motivated coming down, like we will be.
“It’s a knockout game, you don’t get to repeat this next week. So there’s a lot at stake for both teams.
“Even coming back in here, some of the lads in here are saying the success was great but they want that, they want that success, and we want it too, we want to get it together.
“These are the weeks that you live for in Leinster, so loads of excitement and loads of energy. It’s easy this week. If you’re not motivated by this week then you’re probably in the wrong room.”
Click Here: Germany football tracksuit