Wallabies await unbeaten Irishman Ryan

James Ryan's incredible unbeaten record as a professional goes on the line when the Wallabies host Ireland in Brisbane on Saturday.

James Ryan has arrived in Australia with a perfect professional record, growing reputation and a name strangely familiar to rugby league fans.

The Irish lock will be one of many new faces keen to announce themselves when they play the first of three Tests against the Wallabies, in Brisbane on Saturday.

Incredibly, the 21-year-old has won all 23 games of professional rugby he's played.

He was part of Ireland's Six Nations Grand Slam triumph and added the Champions Cup and PRO14 double with Leinster in what has so far been the perfect career.

Such has been his impact, Ryan has been labelled the world No.2 side's version of Australian great John Eales.

Their comparisons stretch beyond the field too, with a modest Ryan happy to shrug off his magical run and heap praise on the Wallabies ahead of their Suncorp Stadium clash.

"It's been a great year and obviously the Six Nations was pretty successful, but you have to draw a line at some stage," he told the Irish Sun.

"What tougher challenge than Australia in their backyard?"

Ryan could match up against the Wallabies' own 21-year-old pillar Izack Rodda on Saturday but the Irish talent knows there is plenty of other threats to handle if his unbeaten streak is to remain.

"They're the last team that's beaten the All Blacks ... so we're expecting an incredibly tough Test match," he said.

"Like every good Aussie team, they like to play with the ball in hand a lot. They've got some serious outside backs and guys in the centre.

"If they get on the front foot, they'll be really hard to stop."


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Source: AAP



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