Garry Ringrose 'all-in' ahead of rematch with All Blacks

admin admin | 11-06 16:15

It was eight years ago yesterday when Ireland made their breakthrough against the All Blacks at Soldier Field in Chicago.

It took 111 years for the men's team to win a game of Test rugby against New Zealand, and the dam has burst since, with Ireland winning five of their last nine meetings.

Garry Ringrose is likely to be in the starting line-up this Friday at Aviva Stadium, and while it will be his eighth time taking on the All Blacks, it will be his ninth time facing the Haka on the pitch.

The centre was part of the Ireland matchday squad on 5 November 2016 in Chicago, an uncapped 21-year-old wearing the 23 shirt, and in line for a debut, in at the deep end against the then world champions.

In the end, he had to sit and watch as Ireland pulled off a famous win, making his debut seven days later when Ireland welcomed Canada to Dublin.

"It was funny. I was 21. Myself and Joey Carbery were on the bench and both of us would have been nervous going into the game," he says as he looks back on that day.

"I was lucky to be on the plane because Keith Earls got injured during the week and that gave me the opportunity to be on the bench.

"I couldn't believe that I'd been selected. After the game I had a text or two saying hard luck that I hadn't got on, but I was laughing to myself because that didn't even cross my mind."

The fact that he was left on the bench didn’t bother him, even if Joe Schmidt felt the need to grab him for a reassuring word later that evening.

Ringrose (second from right) was an unused replacement when Ireland first beat New Zealand

"I do remember after the game in the hotel, obviously everyone celebrating, he let me know, 'just a heads up, you're going to be starting next week against Canada’. I was pretty nervous from that point on.

"I wouldn't have expected or looked for an apology at all. Everyone was buzzing, it wasn't even a thing.

"To be there for such a special occasion, I felt I was lucky to be over there.

"Even the fact that Joey came on and played so well, I was coat-tailing how well he had done because we had gone through the week together.

"I was just excited to be there and experience such a monumental day in Irish sports history, I think."

Ringrose has played in all but one Ireland New Zealand game since, with the exception being the third Test win in Wellington in 2022, which he missed after suffering a concussion in the win in Dunedin the week before.

"I mean, I'd never use or think in my head, the phrase 'getting used to playing against them', because they're such a good team that it requires all-in with the preparation of the week.

"I certainly feel if I'm not all-in in everything I can do to try and prepare, they are exceptionally good at exposing that. And in the past, it shows that even when we are all-in [with our] preparation, they can still expose it with the strength they have.

"They're a team you just have to be at your best against to try to beat them. And we've been lucky in the past in some of those seven games to get a win and then some unfortunate results in there as well.

"So it's something I never take for granted, and I'm excited for the challenge," the Leinster centre (below) added.

One thing in Ireland’s favour this Friday night is their home form.

It’s more than three and a half years since they lost a Test at the Aviva Stadium, and a win against New Zealand would be a 20th consecutive victory in Dublin.

And while Ringrose says the players and management don’t put too much stock on the actual number of wins, he says their home record is something they are conscious and proud of.

"I wouldn't know the number because it's such a special place for us to play. I think it's continuing to become more special with every experience we have there, some results where our backs are against the well.

"It makes us all appreciate what's coming up this weekend. It's always been special but with every result we have there, it just kind of adds to the legacy and we certainly want to keep that going.

"All players I know and certainly myself are pretty short-term focused, you don't think about the game last week or the game the following week, it's just all in on this one.

"Whether we win or lose, that's not in our control, just how hard we work and prep. That's what the focus would be on rather than any records or anything. We just prepare as best we can and hopefully the result can go our way," he added.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.


ALSO READ

Industries demand winter tariff package

LAHORE: United Business Group (FPCCI-UBG) Patron-in-Chief SM Tanveer has appealed to the government ...

Summit highlights urgent climate actions

KARACHI: Pakistan's Future Summit (TFS) 2024, a premier corporate event, opened in Karachi with prom...

PSX falls amid post-earnings consolidation

KARACHI: The stock market on Wednesday retreated from highs, losing over 280 points to settle just a...

Industries demand winter tariff package

LAHORE: United Business Group (FPCCI-UBG) Patron-in-Chief SM Tanveer has appealed to the government ...

Govt urges Nestle to ramp up exports to $100m

ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday urged Nestle Pakistan to increase its exports by four times t...

Fintechs eye global reach in Singapore

KARACHI: Pakistan's IT companies and fintech operators are actively exploring business opportunities...