In 15 minutes, Tim Ryan didn’t just put a smile on Joe Schmidt’s face, he announced himself to the Australian public by scoring a stunning hat-trick against the Blues on Saturday night in Brisbane.
The Blues, blessed with All Blacks wingers Mark Telea and Caleb Clarke, with Rieko Ioane inside them, knew little about him before the clash.
It’s no great surprise.
While he built a nice package for the Junior Wallabies last year, the lean winger had played just 43 minutes off the bench in two matches this year despite an impressive showing in the Reds’ trial against the Force in February.
But, having lit up Suncorp Stadium in one of the most eye-catching displays from a Super Rugby rookie in years, he won’t be flying under the radar anymore.
Tim Ryan scored a stunning hat-trick on his run-on debut for the Reds during their heartbreaking loss to the Blues at Suncorp Stadium on April 27, 2024. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
After showing his willingness to try things in the first half by creating a huge break with an audacious chip-and-chase near his goal line, Ryan turned it on in the second half.
His first try came in the 49th minute, as he ran 50 metres to score after a perfectly executed chip-and-chase from Hunter Paisami.
Four minutes later he had his second by finishing off a well-worked movement from his side from a first-phase play off a lineout.
Then came the best of the lot, as he showed his footwork, acceleration and ability to turn defenders inside-out, including Telea, before gassing Cole Forbes on the inside with a great change in direction off his left foot.
It led to former Wallabies back Morgan Turinui saying it was a “run-on debut like no other”.
“There was a whisper, a chat about this kid in club rugby,” he said.
“They said he was decent, they said he was good. This isn’t good. You don’t come to Super Rugby Pacific, you don’t play the Blues, you don’t do this.”
Former Wallabies captain James Horwill added: “He has absolutely no right to score that try from where he was. The ability to beat not one, not two but three players all end up. Tim Ryan has brought Suncorp Stadium to his feet.”
But for Ryan, who has earned the nickname the junkyard dog, it was a starting debut to remember.
“It was an unreal feeling,” he said.
“All the boys have said that a packed Suncorp is just the best feeling and I got it first-hand when the crowd just erupted, and I’m excited to be in the team and starting team.”
Ryan put his stunning run-on debut down to the confidence his coach Les Kiss, a former Queensland State of Origin and Australian winger, had instilled in him.
“I think we can put that down to Les,” he said.
“Les really helped me throughout the week. He just said keep it a simple game plan and back yourself and that’s what I tried to do.”
Kiss, who said he was proud of their effort despite not wanting to become the nearly men, described Ryan’s game as “impressive”.
“He’s an understated type of player,” Kiss said.
“When I first saw Timmy playing, I love the fact the fact he never ran out. He’s got a good turn of foot.
“Tonight, we just asked him to back himself and he backed himself right from the chip kick right through the game.”
As for Blues coach Vern Cotter, it’s fair to say the Super Rugby heavyweights won’t be forgetting Ryan’s name anytime soon.
“I hope he’s injured next time we play them,” Cotter quipped.
SGrey
Roar Rookie
"What are you trying to show? That you can’t count? Or you think Swinton is back?" On the contrary on both questions - Swinton [a forward] on 4 has scored 1 more try than Pietsch [a back] and Gordon [half-back], each on 3. Not all replies need to be a challenge; sometimes it helps to have numbers illustrate your point. The sentence following that illustration ["Opposite to Waratahs....."] shows a different trend with the Brumbies [compared to Waratahs], where the backs [Toole 7 and Wright 5] have both scored more tries than the highest scoring forward [Cale 4].
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
Yes I did, it would well for creating space down their left wing for that try from around their 22 line. I was thinking the same that it has been missing. Kiwis have continued to use it over the years, but we had let it drop.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
You can only score tries as good as the opposition is...oh that's right probably best team going around.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
My mate played halfback for west magpies and St George mid late 80s ,told me you can't beat speed and simple moves like the wrap around still work in the modern game but it's gotten too structured..noticed Reds were doing it alot on Saturday..Kiss coaching the basics .
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Think you could be correct with this new coach ...counter counter counter!!
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Sualli can kick goals abrasive enough to play centres as well as back three so realistically a great addition...money spent too much but ultimately he will be great..
Wizz
Roar Rookie
No smokey Tua would walk in with red carpet ..but unfortunately we only take forklift drivers and Kiwi whiners don't get there best stock ...
Joffrey
Roar Rookie
Yes but Eddie picked the wrong young guys and left out the best old guys.
Olly
Roar Rookie
I understand defence and contact zone.
Andrew Nichols
Roar Rookie
Chiefs fan. Thought that young fellas tries were some of the best Ive seen in a while. What a weekend! What marvellous matches, even the comedy show in my town Dunedin.
Christy Doran
Editor
Thanks for enlightening me on that.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Be difficult not to pick Wright at 15 at the moment. I think Wright has been hard done by for a guy who only moved to 15 last season and got thrown into a Wallabies team with a bunch of Muppets in the back three.
Olly
Roar Rookie
That is my feeling. Ireland do like to run a big body backline and running two smaller midfielders is risky business at Test level. Personally I also like on the ball type of players at 13. I think Flook is a potential future option but not today. Happy to be proven wrong. A real shame that Henry kid picked up a major injury, he was like having a 7 at 12.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Thanks for chatting Wizz.
Guess
Roar Rookie
What's your point exactly? You're shifting goal posts about wright and shit and I'm not engaging in it. This year no tah back scored more than forward.” Swinton on 4, with Pietsch and Gordon each on 3 [top three]. What are you trying to show? That you can't count? Or you think Swinton is back?
Alli Anz
Roar Rookie
So what you’re saying is the Reds keep choking and the Brumbies know how to grind out a game?
acjj
Roar Rookie
Yes I have it on good authority that the Crusaders are planning to start Owen Franks on Ryan's wing next week because they watched the match tape and identified that Ryan lacks pace. Meanwhile Nick Frost's contract has been terminated because he isn't tall enough to play second row and the Reds have given Fraser McReight one final chance to up his work rate.
acjj
Roar Rookie
We have a great case study on only picking young guys - RWC 2023
acjj
Roar Rookie
Schmidt is not silly enough to think that the past predicts the future or to blindly copy another country's style. Having said that I agree that without a Nonu or Aki type 12, Schmidt may be more inclined to pick a bigger 13 over Flook
acjj
Roar Rookie
Did you fall into a coma in 2018 and only just wake up?