Things didn't go according to plan for James Ryan in 2021.
The Ireland second row missed the games against England and France in the Six Nations due to injury.
When he returned to action for Leinster they were outmuscled by La Rochelle in the Champions Cup semi-final.
For so long a heavily tipped Lions Test starter, the 25-year-old was left out of the touring party altogether and even when Alun Wyn Jones suffered an injury against Japan, Warren Gatland decided that Ryan was not who he was looking for.
But Ryan went about his business and, with Johnny Sexton rested, captained Ireland for the two summer Tests against Japan and the USA.
Now, with Sexton ruled out of Sunday’s clash with Argentina at the Aviva, Ryan steps up to lead the team once again.
"It probably wasn’t the easiest year last season," admitted a candid Ryan.
"Look, I think being a player performing at this level you always have doubts.
"I have doubts when things are going pretty well for me. There’s a saying, 'if you doubt yourself, you trust yourself’, know what I mean.
"You can either be uncomfortable or happy with where you are.
"I don’t think I have ever been complacent but yeah, I think this [season] has been good to me so far.
"Getting a few knocks [it] takes a while to get your confidence back and build up that bit of confidence.
"I feel like I have that back now obviously coming though a number of games.
"So yeah, I’m feeling good, just like everybody else. Beating New Zealand at home felt very satisfying.
"Obviously, a lot of work was put into that in the group for 8, 9, 10 days and to come out the right side of it was pretty good."
Put to him that being left out of the trip to South Africa might actually have its upsides, the Dubliner said: "I don't know. I would say that I do feel good, I feel good so far.
"I do think the break was a good thing for me.
"Physically, it gave me a good chance to work on a bit of robustness and deal with a few niggles that I'd had. Since I've come back, I've felt pretty good physically."
Ryan starred in Saturday's superb victory over New Zealand, outshining World Cup-winning All Black locks Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.
The win, he said, was all the more special as it played out in front of his family and friends and in front of a full house at the Aviva.
"It’s just not the same [without fans]. It didn’t feel like the same sport.
"It was brilliant to have my family and friends back again.
"I was chatting to somebody, they said the atmosphere [was better because the Covid lockdown had affected] people [who hadn’t been] able to support us or watch us play to experience that for a couple of years.
"I think it always feels a little bit different when New Zealand come to town. I think it felt an extra bit special.
"It was a brilliant occasion to be involved in. Hope to get another good crowd this weekend so yeah, we can’t wait for it.
"The big thing for us now is that we can't come off the back of a good win and then not show up this week.
"So I think that was the pleasing thing when we came back in, it feels like everyone's turned the page pretty quickly and we're already looking forward to this weekend.
"It's very important that we finish this block the way we want to finish it."
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