What planet were they watching Ireland vs. England on?
Garry Ringrose sat down with us, back in January, and spoke about how he would dearly love to be back in time to help Ireland’s quest to claim the Six Nations.
His immediate focus was on getting back in Leinster blue but he admitted there would be a tinge of jealousy as he looked on at his Ireland teammates starting the championship away to France, in Paris. He commented:
“What I’m worrying about most is getting back and playing for Leinster.
“It’s an evening kick-off [against France] so I’ll be able to get a bit of training in beforehand and I won’t feel guilty watching the Ireland match. I’m sure Jamie Heaslip will be out there training so I’ll just copy him!”
Heaslip would have dearly loved to be out there, in London on St Patrick’s Day, as Ireland beat England to win the Grand Slam. His back injury forced him to retire, late last month, but Ringrose got back from his ankle issues and made Ireland a better team.
Robbie Henshaw and Chris Farrell both starred in the No.13 jersey for Ireland in this championship but Ringrose took it up another notch. He was class against the Scots and was superb against England, scoring an early try, making two ball-ripping turnovers in the tackle, stuck another 10 and made a few vital line breaks and carries for his side.
Following the game, this is how SportsJOE rated the Leinster centre:
Garry Ringrose: 10
On the spot to follow up on that Sexton up-and-under and Anthony Watson’s spill. Great try to get his team going. Superb in defence too.
That’s right, 10. TEN out of TEN.
Granted, we may have been swept up in GrandSlameuphoria [one word!], but Ringrose had one hell of a match at Twickenham.
Many of the English journalist present agreed. The Times and Sun gave him 8/10 with veteran scribe touting him as a future British & Irish Lions centre.
Over in The Telegraph, however, the rating was not as generous, or fair. Dan Schofield had the mighty task of rating all 46 Irish and English players and he got many of them spot on but his 6/10 for Ringrose is way off. He wrote:
‘Quieter than last week but still showed great scavenging to grab Ireland’s first try. Undoubtedly the future of this Irish team.’
But only good enough for a 6. No chance.
It will matter little to Ringrose, who spoke with us not long after the final whistle. He commented:
“It was incredible stuff, St Patrick’s Day and at Twickenham.
“From my point of view for the week coming into it it was about trying to forget about that and it was just another game. As tough an opposition as it is, it was about asserting ourselves personally and getting the basics covered.”
“The lap of honour was pretty special,” he added. “My parents and girlfriend were over so it was nice to be able to share those moments with them.”
The memories will last for decades to come, while that woeful 6/10 rating should be quickly forgotten.
Some player. Some game.
