RUGBY PRO 12 SEMI-FINALS:YOU WOULD think Donnacha Ryan, after all these bloody years of frustrations, would be glad to see the back of at least one of those stubborn secondrows clogging up his professional pathway.

But no. That’s not how this Tipperary machine functions. A mention of the imminent departure of Munster coach Tony McGahan, along with a host of household names, and it is the man who ultimately forced him into the backrow that rolls off his tongue.

We mentioned the usual suspects: John Hayes, Jerry Flannery, David Wallace and France-bound Lifeimi Mafi. All told, it is a clear-out of epic proportions.

“And Micko (O’Driscoll) as well. He’s playing some great rugby since he announced his retirement. There are nine guys leaving the Cork centre alone. Those guys you’ve mentioned are the heartbeat of the team. There are some great fellas leaving, loadsa craic.

“And obviously Dumper (McGahan) has done a fantastic job integrating young guys into the squad, a great skills coach. Yeah, we’d like to let him leave on a high, bring some silverware, repay the trust, work and effort he has put in. That’s all we can do.”

The blow, however, is softened somewhat by the A team pack’s recent performance in the British and Irish cup.

“You have people saying, ‘Are you worried?’ but I wouldn’t be one bit worried. I’d be excited more than anything else.”

The best example he can give is the man voted young player of the year by his peers at last night’s Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association awards. Peter O’Mahony was barely mapped 12 months ago yet now he is capped. Denis Leamy’s injury got him onto the Munster flank and from there he forced his way onto the Ireland bench come the Six Nations.

“I remember playing one game with Peter O’Mahony this season before the Northampton game and then Castres. I wasn’t used to the things he would do but it was actually brilliant, he reinvigorated others guys, by showing he can bring something else to the table. He’ll be no David Wallace but he brings his own attributes to the party. That’s great.

“Other guys have been trying to get into the squad for years and now with the mass exodus of guys retiring it is important for these other guys to turn up now and prove they have the work done.”

So Munster will abide?

“Ah, there is always another guy coming up to take your slot, especially in Munster in the forwards. It definitely drives the standard on. I would be optimistic about how we go in the next couple of weeks and next season.”

But really, if Munster are to avoid a dip into a pool of mediocrity, the changes witnessed of late must produce the next wave of leaders.

O’Mahony is certainly one for the future, but at 28, Ryan is all about the here and now.

This was the campaign when he disrupted the old guard. It was “4. D Ryan, 5. P O’Connell” for the Heineken Cup team with Donncha O’Callaghan benched.

The Irish coaching think tank could be accused of conservatism by not adopting a similar policy during the Six Nations but when O’Connell went down against France, Ryan came in and performed.

Just like he must do come June 9th in Eden Park.

“I wouldn’t get carried away. Not so long ago I was playing second fiddle to the lads and had to go play backrow to have any chance of getting into the team. The backrow lads weren’t too happy about that but, you know, you’d do anything just to get on the field. I had to reinvent myself so I could show my attributes.

“It was nice to get picked for the Heineken Cup this year. I was kind of shocked but not nervous because that’s what you crave; playing on the big days.

“You need to be ready to perform when you do get selected. All the bickering about why you aren’t selected doesn’t matter when you do get your chance, you have to take it.

“If you don’t you are left with egg on your face. It is going okay but hopefully we can drive on this Friday night.”

Paul O’Connell’s loss is obviously massive but Ryan adopts the same attitude that has served him well of late.

“Nobody panics if an injury happens as there is somebody to step in there. It becomes their time in the shirt, their chance to make the most of it. Paul will be well missed but, certainly, it will force the rest of us to raise our standards.”