British and Irish Lions

The Cherry and Whites ran out 48-5 winners against Italian champions Calvisano at Kingsholm to keep in touch with Pool 6 leaders Cardiff Blues and Ryan was happy with the outcome.

"When we lost at Cardiff we had to make sure that we kept winning with bonus points," said Ryan, whose side were knocked out by Munster at the quarter-final stages of last year's competition.

"Our decision making was a step up from last week. We played significantly better and so did Calvisano."

Having won 40-19 in Italy last Saturday, Gloucester made it three Heineken Cup victories so far this season thanks to first-half scores from Mark Foster and Luke Narraway, along with a brace of tries from both Lesley Vainikolo and Matthew Watkins in the second period.

Despite the comfortable scoreline, Ryan admits that it was a far from easy run out for the joint leaders of the Guinness Premiership.

"I knew that they would come and make it hard for us," added Ryan.

"They wouldn't turn up and just lie down and that's how it proved.

"I knew that we were making them work hard in the first half so we would get the dividends late on."

Having become only the ninth Welshman to pick up a Heineken Cup winners medal, Gethin Jenkins is now getting ready for his next challenge - holding on to his British & Irish Lions Test spot.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.