Ireland fans had been dreading a situation like Garry Ringrose’s heading into Saturday’s game with Scotland.
Ringrose had played just 113 minutes since Leinster’s New Year’s Day win over Connacht and there were concerns that any rustiness in his return to international rugby would be brutally exposed by his opposite number Huw Jones, who came to Dublin fresh off a two-try performance against defending champions England.
Ringrose has been earmarked for days like today since he was a teenager at Blackrock but you just didn’t expect it to come in what was only his seventh game of the season as he’s battled his way through an injury ravaged year. The 23-year-old provides a level of dynamism that is so desperately needed in this Irish backline and so hard to replicate.
Munster centre Chris Farrell was immense in his first Six Nations start against Wales, and his direct ball running and smooth distribution skills gave Warren Gatland’s side problems that they had been so effective at posing to others over the course of this decade, but Ringrose was a return to a more traditional style of Irish centre.
He was a throwback to another confident Blackrock graduate that was once so comfortable on the ball, a linchpin in defence and had the footwork to leave a defence in disarray.
Ringrose eased his way into the game with a few early tackles to start but his brilliance was on full display when he managed to catch Peter Horne and Huw Jones off guard in the 25th minute after Ireland reversed a play off the back of a scrum.
Off one right foot step, he created a gaping hole in the Scottish defence and he was unlucky not to find Keith Earls who was just a second behind in support.
Ringrose has always had this ability to beat defenders with his footwork. Not since Brian O’Driscoll have Ireland had a centre that can weave his way through a defensive line with such ease and grace, but this innate ability to leave others at a standstill has always been in there in his locker.
What he showed on Saturday was a level of comfort at distributing the ball that we haven’t seen from him before.
With Ireland leading 12-3 on the stroke of half-time and pressing on the Scottish line, Ringrose stepped into first receiver and followed his pass to loop around and feed Jacob Stockdale who did an excellent job at standing up Blair Kinghorn to score.
Jacob Stockdale grabs his second try of the game! Sexton sends over a touchline conversion and Ireland lead 14-3
Watch the second half live on @ITV #NatWest6Nations pic.twitter.com/PXFwWGKZvw
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) March 10, 2018
Ringrose has always been a dangerous runner on the fringes for Ireland but his ability to step into the line and make a play that essentially put the nail in Scotland’s coffin is a testament to the growth in his game.
Joe Schmidt must also be given a lot of credit for just how seamless his return was, especially considering Chris Farrell’s performance against Wales.
Both players stepped into one of the hardest positions on the field and produced man of the match displays, even if Rob Kearney earned that particular honour against Scotland.
Ringrose will have another big challenge next weekend against Owen Farrell and presumably Jonathan Joseph, but in his first game back in an Irish jersey, his first game alongside Bundee Aki and the first time there has ever had serious question marks over just how ready he was for one of the finest centres in world rugby at present, he answered any and all questions with ease.
Which, must be said, is a lot easier said than done.
