Donnacha Ryan could not hide his disappointment for his former Munster teammates as he helped Racing 92 to the Champions Cup final after a 27-22 victory in Bordeaux.
Munster put together a late charge to secure a more respectable score-line but the men from Thomond Park ultimately suffered heartache at the semi-final stage for the second year running.
And Ryan, speaking to David McIntyre post-match, was keen to share his commiserations for Johann van Graan’s players.
“It’s bitter sweet really – I genuinely feel for the lads, they’ve been knocking on the door last year, this year and obviously two years ago was very tough,” Ryan told Off The Ball.
“They’re building really well and they’ve a great unit there playing together. Obviously I’m thrilled to bits to be back in a final but I do feel for the lads.”
Ryan, part of the last Munster side to reach a European Cup final in 2008, expects his former side to bounce back from their latest disappointment.
“We [Munster] had fantastic teams over the years and it was very frustrating,” Ryan said.
“It just goes to show how hard it is to get to a final. The Munster guys are hurting now but that’s a big motivation for them next year to come back and do it again.
“I know how hard it is, [you put] so much work and stress into it and it means everything. You want to be playing at the top. But I think one thing I’ve done since I’ve come to France is to really enjoy [life] outside of it.
“Playing and training is great but you have to make sure to switch off afterwards because sometimes rugby can become a bit all consuming. And that’s great in one part but at the same time it’s a sport.”
Ryan also touched on how life in France is treating him after making his long awaited debut jus before the turn of the year.
“At the start I really wanted to make a big impression,” Ryan said.
“I had a fantastic surgeon and I came back from a neck fusion after 10 weeks. I was just really mad to make an impression and to fly the flag for any other Irish lads coming over to France and make the reputation of how hard the Irish players work.
“I’m really just trying to make other Irish guys’ jobs easier and do the best I can. I’m not getting any younger, so I’m enjoying all the experiences when I can and I’m really enjoying it.”
Written by James Hopper
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