They haven’t even played a Test match together for Ireland yet.
The 2017 Six Nations is just a week away and Irish rugby supporters will be eagerly looking forward to their team’s opener against Scotland. Joe Schmidt has 10 players on one cap or less in his 40-man squad but his starting line-up should contain many familiar faces.
Schmidt has a good idea about most of his selections and one of them is his midfield. Despite including the likes of Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall and Rory Scannell, he is set to opt for Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose in midfield.
Irish fans will be eager to see how they fare – they have yet to share the pitch together fore their nation – but they are not the only ones. British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland will be watching on and hoping the partnership can deliver on its’ exciting promise.
The Kiwi, who led the Lions to a 2013 series win in Australia, was discussing the upcoming tour to New Zealand with The Telegraph this week. He insisted that many of the players that helped him to that series victory in Australia had a battle on their hands for selection. He said:
“There are a lot of guys from 2013 still playing but if they are to be selected for 2017, their form is going to have to improve. There are a lot of things up in the air and there is a lot of exciting talent about.”
Pressed on the ‘exciting talent’, Gatland quickly reeled off three names – Maro Itoje of England and the Irish pairing of Henshaw and Ringrose.
We have heard Gatland mention the impressive Itoje and Henshaw before but this is the first time he has brought up Ringrose. The 22-year-old has three caps to his name now and scored a damn fine try against Australia. He was so elusive that referee Jerome Garces called for a TMO so, we suspect, he could try figure out just how the young centre managed it.
Garry Ringrose's try was a first half highlight. Follow the second half action live here: https://t.co/Enb9LCwbej https://t.co/go3LAz33br
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) November 26, 2016
Ringrose played at outside centre on his Test debut, against Canada, but was drafted in to play inside centre against the All Blacks when Henshaw was taken out by Sam Cane. He was Ireland’s best threat in broken play during that game and was retained at 12 for the visit of Australia.
Ringrose should shift back to 13 for the Scotland game when Henshaw resumes inside centre duties. The start of the Athlone native’s season was disrupted by his comeback from knee and shoulder knocks but he has since formed an excellent centre partnership with Ringrose for Leinster.
Both men will know it is all well and good being discussed as potential tourists but there are four months to go until that Lions squad set off for New Zealand.
The Six Nations will be Gatland’s best opportunity to see if these players – he has also mentioned the likes of Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton and Tadhg Furlong – can take their early season form into the melting pot of fierce championship battle.
