Garry Ringrose is here. Garry Ringrose is back.
Before facing up to the in form Huw Jones in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Garry Ringrose had only played 113 minutes of rugby this whole year.
The player blessed with some of the fleetest feet in Irish rugby had endured an injury ravaged existence for a period stretching almost a full calendar year back to last summer.
Three surgeries and plenty of frustration later, the elusive outside centre made his eagerly anticipated return to the Aviva Stadium and the green of an Ireland jersey in this defining clash with a dangerous Scotland team, who would be emboldened by a stunning win over England last weekend.
Huw Jones was at the centre of that victory, with the in form Warriors’ centre heading to Dublin with six tries in his last six and plenty of confidence. The pressure was on Garry Ringrose, who was given a vote of confidence by manager Joe Schmidt when he was named to replace the injured Chris Farrell in Ireland’s back line.
Schmidt had faith in his man, but concerns were voiced by many rugby commentators as to whether he was up for the unenviable task. His defence, which admittedly didn’t stand up well in Ireland’s shock 27-22 loss to the same opposition in Murrayfield last year was the main worry, to go with his lack of match fitness.
But just two weeks on from making his return for 54 minutes in the blue of Leinster, Garry Ringrose didn’t just answer all of those questions, he also showed himself up as a key player for this team and one who will be crucial to our hopes of sealing a Grand Slam title against England next weekend.
Ringrose, who could easily have been ring-rusty instead, was in phenomenal form from the first minute to the 80th in Ireland’s impressive 28-8 victory over the Scots.
This devastating runner made Gregor Townsend’s backs seem flat-footed every time he got the ball in his hand. He put them on the back foot every time he put those famous feet to the floor.
What a match https://t.co/Dd3ghygrGU
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 10, 2018
The flying number 13 made 11 carries in a productive day’s work. He got over the gain line on nine of those 11 occasions, with his opponents clearly fearing his every dash and move as the game got older. He gained 77 metres, but perhaps the most impressive thing of all about his Saturday was his performance of his defensive duties.
Especially given those aforementioned pre-match concerns. A massive tackle on his opposite number Huw Jones around 60 minutes in was followed up by a turnover and that just defined his day.
Fiery, explosive and aggressive but at the same time so dainty, mercurial and threatening. He offers the X factor that Ireland will need next weekend to break down a sturdy English defence.
His clever contribution to Stockdale’s second try, where he sharply stepped in as first receiver was another display of that cute rugby brain.
In the last few minutes, he limped around the park, so here’s to hoping it was only a knock and nothing too serious, because his presence on St Patrick’s day will be crucial.
There was never any pressure. Not for Garry Ringrose.
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