LAST UPDATE | 21 Jan 2021
GARRY RINGROSE SAID he is hopeful of being involved in Leinster’s Pro14 derby clash with Munster on Saturday as he looks to make a return ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign, which kicks off in three weekends’ time.
Ringrose, who has been named Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Men’s Player of the Year for 2019/20, has had a frustrating time with injuries in recent months.
He broke his jaw during Ireland’s win over Italy last October and subsequently underwent a procedure to have screws and a plate inserted to remedy the issue.
The 25-year-old suffered another jaw injury upon his return for Leinster in December, cracking the other side of the jaw in a win over Northampton to ensure he had another spell on the sidelines.
The centre did not require surgery second time around, however, and he is now close to making a return, with his hope being that he is involved in this weekend’s clash with Munster.
“I’m back on solid foods which is the main thing and a nice step, then I still have to tick a few boxes from a contact perspective to be available for the weekend,” said Ringrose yesterday.
“I’m hoping I can pass them and at least put my hand up to be involved in some way.
“Anyone who is out with injury is always itching to get back and obviously a game against Munster down in Thomond Park, it doesn’t get much bigger than that. In terms of intensity and pressure, it’s as good as it gets.”
Ringrose’s impending return is a major boost for Ireland head coach Andy Farrell ahead of his side’s Six Nations campaign, which starts away to Wales on 7 February.
The Leinster man said the nature of the second jaw injury allowed him to maintain his fitness and he is raring to go for the Six Nations.
“I’ve been able to run and get in a lot of strength work, the staff here have been keeping me as close to match fit as possible without playing one. I’d love to play a match and get back out there.”
All eyes will be on Thomond Park this weekend as Leinster visit Munster for what should be a full-blooded affair between two full-strength teams.
Munster boss Johann van Graan added to the anticipation by firing back at Leinster yesterday following the eastern province’s critical comments about his side’s box-kicking focus the last time the teams met.
With van Graan having suggested that Leinster used the same tactics as Munster in their recent win over Ulster, Ringrose underlined the importance of that area of the game.
“The kicking game is important and for us, it’s the challenge of getting the balance right between kicking and running. I think it’s in Leinster’s DNA to play a brand of rugby we all enjoy.
“It’s a balance of having an attacking kicking game or relieving pressure through your kicking game and knowing the moment when to strike. Munster have shown in their last few results that they’re getting that balance pretty spot on.”
Meanwhile, Ringrose expressed his pleasure at being named Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Men’s Player of the Year.
“It’s a huge honour. It’s tricky because it feels like a while ago because of the break with Covid but it’s still a nice recognition.”
Ireland sensation Béibhinn Parsons was named Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Women’s Player of The Year for 2019/20.
Former Munster Rugby CEO Garrett Fitzgerald, who sadly passed away in February 2020, has been honoured with the Tom Rooney Award in recognition of his immense contribution to Irish rugby.
Leinster picked up the Dave Guiney RWI Team of the Year, while Jordon Conroy was awarded the Men’s 7’s Player of the Year for the second year in a row and Louise Galvin – who retired last October – is the 2019/20 Women’s 7’s Player of the Year.
Ballynahinch were named Club of the Year for their outstanding community outreach work during the first Covid-19 lockdown.
Ex-British & Irish Lion, Ireland, Ulster and Ballymena man Trevor Ringland and former Ireland Women, Leinster and UL Bohemians star Fiona Coghlan have both been inducted into the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Hall of Fame.
Is Ringrose a key man for Ireland? Classy operator no doubt, and fantastic for Leinster, but in the test arena he tends to get bullied, its not a size thing, he’s just not physical enough.
@Anthony James McLaughlin: now that comment portrays a serious lack of knowledge of rugby. Ringrose and Henshaw as a centre partnership are right at the top. There is none better. On a par with D’Arcy and O’Driscoll.
@JG: Different era’s.Hopefully Ringrose and Henshaw prove me wrong.
@Anthony James McLaughlin: Leinster players player of the year in 2020, Irish players player of the year in 2020
So in short , yes he is.
@JG: I know we all hoped that Ringrose would turn out to be the successor to BOD, but there’s a good reason no one outside of Ireland talks about them in the same breath. The best Irish centre partnership for the last 4 years has been Aki and whichever 13 they choose to slot in next to him. I can’t see how you could compare Gordon and Brian to Ringrose and Henshaw when the latter pairing have only managed to pull on the green jersey together a handful of times.
@Anthony James McLaughlin: are you saying he isn’t as good as BOD or that he isn’t a key man for the current team? These are very different things.
And I am not sure how much you watch but for the last 5 years ringrose has owned the 13 jersey when fit. The rotation is always at 12 between aki and henshaw. It is only through injury that we have been forced to rotate 13.
@Phil Sharpe: Come on lads, so the only reasons I disagree with you is ‘a lack of rugby knowledge’ or I don’t watch alot of rugby? Ringrose has been injured alot in the past few years, normally a freak accident so I wouldn’t call him fragile, but when he is away, Irelands overall performance doesn’t seem to suffer, mostly because we have such strong alternatives, so to my mind calling him a ‘key player’ is a bit strong.
@Anthony James McLaughlin: they are no D’Arcy and bod but equally the Aki thing is just not correct. He’s not a partnership type of player, he does his own thing, he’s very good at it but say the idea is to move the ball quickly to the outside centre or the wing well I think he missed that days training.
@Phil Sharpe: he’s a leinster player who does more than smash up the middle and makes the odd big hit, of course he’s not going to get a fair analysis on this site
@Anthony James McLaughlin: would have to disagree with you on ringrose. Probably the only player that played up to the standard in 2019.
I cannot remember him getting bullied by bigger opposition maybe you can refresh my memory. In my opinion he is the best attacking 13 in the country, is he better them BOD, of course not. BOD is arguably the best 13 to ever play the game. But I believe henshaw is a far more rounded player then D’Arcy.
@Anthony James McLaughlin: Bollllocks!
@Anthony James McLaughlin: do you honestly think England would have scored that try if Ringrose was playing instead of farrell. So yes Ireland does suffer when he’s not there
@whoowhat?: well said. Measuring people up to BOD is pointless he was one of a kind. Ringrose is a fantastic player at 25 and has his best years ahead of him.
If the game gets faster and more open as it looks like future rule changes will make happen then we could be looking at him being right up there with the best in the world.
Henshaw as a foil at 12 is perfect too, that man is a force of nature
@JG: now that comment portrays a serious lack of knowledge of rugby, certainly the closest, not on par.
@Anthony James McLaughlin: Absolute braindead comment.
@JG: Funny, the stars show our best centre partnership in the last 4 years is Aki & Henshaw. But don’t let facts get in the way of your argument.
@Paddy Kennedy: facts? What facts are you using ?
@Anthony James McLaughlin: Fairly inaccurate comment in all fairness. Do you actually watch the games? I’ve never seen him “bullied.” He’s by a country mile the best 13 we have.
Class operator who will be a great edition to the squad if available the weekend.
Best natural 13 since BoD. Still only 25. he has 3 years to push on and see how high he can set the bar for himself, barring injury.
@thesaltyurchin: Yeah I think he’s a really outstanding player and he can certainly still improve. He’s been a bit unfortunate with a couple of niggly injuries in the last while so I hope he get an injury free run at it. Think it’s probably a futile exercise that he keeps getting compared with BOD who retired 7 years ago now. BOD was a one-off and probably the best 13 to play the game as someone else said on here. The game has even changed a good bit since 2014. D’Arcy and BOD are probably our best ever centre combo, but seeing as they are both under 6′ would they get picked in today’s game? The purist in me hopes so. We’ve gone too far over with emphasis on size vs skill.
@Carmine Lorenzo: When I see GD standing next to Stringer on TV, he’s not that much bigger, dunno how he survived! BoD would survive anything tho, circus freak, belongs in cage.
Midfield partnerships are important and communication between them is key to both the attacking and defending (obviously). I think for Leinster the best combination is Henshaw and Ringrose but I think it’s only fair to ask this question in the Irish context, I have nothing but respect for Ringrose and I hope he fulfills his potential in the coming 3 to 4 years as he does bring something different to our play but right here right now there has to be a strong argument made that Aki at 12 and Henshaw at 13 might be our better option. Before the usual Leinster snowflakes cry foul this has nothing to do with provincial bias it is just a reflection on where we are as a team. For me I think both partnerships will do a job for us but neither can be classed as truly world class at the present.
Great news he’s nearly back. Leinster, and Ireland in particular, could really do with him.