The Ryanaissance - James Ryan is back to best as he hits 50 caps

For much of his still young career, James Ryan has been judged off unsustainable standards.

This is the man whose first senior game of rugby was for Ireland rather than a province, and who had a Test try within two minutes of stepping onto the pitch.

This is the second row who was a Six Nations Grand Slam winner, a Champions Cup winner and a Pro14 champion before losing a game in professional rugby.

The teenager who captained Ireland to their best ever finish at an U20 World Championship, and a first ever win against New Zealand.

Still just 26, it feels like Ryan has packed a career's worth of ups and downs into just over half a decade.

And on the day he wins his 50th Ireland cap, he might now be playing the best rugby of his career.

Twelve months ago there were legitimate concerns over not just his career, but his long-term health. Having suffered three concussions during 2021, the lock was stood down from rugby and saw a head injury specialist from the end of November until the start of the 2022 Six Nations, a gap of 11 weeks.

And when he was the victim of a head-high tackle (below) by England's Charlie Ewels the following month at Twickenham those concerns returned.

Thankfully, Ryan was able to return to action in early May of last year, and while Leinster's season ultimately ended in disappointment, Ireland's Test series win against New Zealand last summer appears to have marked a turning point in his career.

Ahead of Ireland's Autumn Nations Series win against South Africa in November, he spoke of how he's rebuilt his confidence this season, with those head injuries effecting how he was approaching the game.

Crucially this season, Ryan is producing big moments in big games.

"It's something that I think got under his skin, this