It’s odd, but Garry Ringrose already feels like a solid and steady part of the Ireland back-line, despite having just five caps to his name.
His youthful face and not-quite-fully-filled-out frame should make him look well out of place among some of the more hardened and grizzled men of Test rugby. Yet the speed with which he adapts to each new level of the game, the assurance he displays in making decisions and the accuracy he brings to contacts where you might expect him to be over-matched effectively mask any lack of experience.
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The Leinster centre won’t admit that he’s acquitted himself well, but any comfort he does feel, he puts down to the experience picked on the way up through the grades: from U20s to Leinster A and then at senior level.
“Every game I play is getting bigger and bigger and there’s more on the line,” says the smiling 22-year-old. And as an outside centre, the responsibility on his shoulders is big as well, with difficult defensive reads to be made every time the opposition send the ball his way.
At 13, you’re definitely shown a different picture every game. I’ll always come away – no matter if I was playing for Leinster or Ireland – having learned something new.
It’s about trying to adapt as well as possible. Even training against each other, there’s always something new. Thankfully I’ve Robbie (Henshaw) inside me who’s incredibly smart and physical defensively. I can follow his lead sometimes and he covers me a bit if I get it wrong. I have that bit of security there and I do the best I can to implement what I’ve learned.”
Along with Henshaw, Ringrose credits the man he replaced with passing down some invaluable nuggets of knowledge. Jared Payne was widely regarded as the back-line’s defensive leader, but his successor has made for a relatively easy transition during his injury woe.
“Jared is incredible defensively. I’ve learned as much as I could off him training with him and watching him on TV.
Inpho / Billy Stickland
Inpho / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland
“To describe him as the ‘defensive captain’ is very true. I don’t know whether there’s a specific captain now, I think collectively we all have to buy in and not one person is defending on their own.”
“If I could be half the player he is I’d be over the moon. With him being injured I’ve just to try to best fill his shoes with the opportunity I’ve been given.”
As his learning curve continues, so too do the landmarks for Ringrose. Saturday’s clash with France will be his first Six Nations game on home turf, his debut in this Championship was his first international outside of the Aviva Stadium. It’s a whole different experience, and it will be good to come home with the new knowledge in hand.
“Without stating the obvious: it’s just having to travel. You don’t quite have the home crowd behind you when the going gets tough. Having said that, I couldn’t get over how many Irish people were in the stands for both games. There’s that element which is tough. But you learn to knit closer as a group and you follow the leaders when things go wrong.
“Thankfully, we’ll have the best of both worlds now in the Aviva.
Against Scotland we conceded two tries out wide, which is never nice for the 13s or wingers, so it’s learning to set a bit wider and then come off the line a bit squarer – if that makes sense.”
“I didn’t expect to play as much rugby as I did during the autumn series. One or two injuries in the build-up and I managed to find myself in for the Six Nations.
'I'll always come away having learned something new' - Ringrose
EVERY DAY’S A school day.
It’s odd, but Garry Ringrose already feels like a solid and steady part of the Ireland back-line, despite having just five caps to his name.
His youthful face and not-quite-fully-filled-out frame should make him look well out of place among some of the more hardened and grizzled men of Test rugby. Yet the speed with which he adapts to each new level of the game, the assurance he displays in making decisions and the accuracy he brings to contacts where you might expect him to be over-matched effectively mask any lack of experience.
The Leinster centre won’t admit that he’s acquitted himself well, but any comfort he does feel, he puts down to the experience picked on the way up through the grades: from U20s to Leinster A and then at senior level.
“Every game I play is getting bigger and bigger and there’s more on the line,” says the smiling 22-year-old. And as an outside centre, the responsibility on his shoulders is big as well, with difficult defensive reads to be made every time the opposition send the ball his way.
It’s about trying to adapt as well as possible. Even training against each other, there’s always something new. Thankfully I’ve Robbie (Henshaw) inside me who’s incredibly smart and physical defensively. I can follow his lead sometimes and he covers me a bit if I get it wrong. I have that bit of security there and I do the best I can to implement what I’ve learned.”
Along with Henshaw, Ringrose credits the man he replaced with passing down some invaluable nuggets of knowledge. Jared Payne was widely regarded as the back-line’s defensive leader, but his successor has made for a relatively easy transition during his injury woe.
“Jared is incredible defensively. I’ve learned as much as I could off him training with him and watching him on TV.
“To describe him as the ‘defensive captain’ is very true. I don’t know whether there’s a specific captain now, I think collectively we all have to buy in and not one person is defending on their own.”
“If I could be half the player he is I’d be over the moon. With him being injured I’ve just to try to best fill his shoes with the opportunity I’ve been given.”
As his learning curve continues, so too do the landmarks for Ringrose. Saturday’s clash with France will be his first Six Nations game on home turf, his debut in this Championship was his first international outside of the Aviva Stadium. It’s a whole different experience, and it will be good to come home with the new knowledge in hand.
“Without stating the obvious: it’s just having to travel. You don’t quite have the home crowd behind you when the going gets tough. Having said that, I couldn’t get over how many Irish people were in the stands for both games. There’s that element which is tough. But you learn to knit closer as a group and you follow the leaders when things go wrong.
“Thankfully, we’ll have the best of both worlds now in the Aviva.
“I didn’t expect to play as much rugby as I did during the autumn series. One or two injuries in the build-up and I managed to find myself in for the Six Nations.
“It’s pretty cool.”
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6 Nations Six Nations education centre France Garry Ringrose Ireland The Ringer through the ringer