Keith Earls hails ‘sharp’ Garry Ringrose
Ireland winger Keith Earls has backed Leinster centre Garry Ringrose to make a big impression in Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Scotland in Dublin.
With Robbie Henshaw and Chris Farrell both sidelined through injury, Ringrose is set to partner Bundee Aki in the Irish midfield.
Ringrose only recently recovered from an ankle injury in January, but Munster flyer Earls doesn’t believe it has hampered his progress that much.
“Ringer’s been in here for the last couple of years, we all know how good he’s been,” Earls told Press Association Sport.
“He’s been training the last two weeks with us and it doesn’t look like he’s been out long. He’s still sharp, he’s been causing havoc.
“Look, we’ve been unfortunate to lose Robbie (Henshaw) and Chris (Farrell). They’re two world-class players, but we’ve another world-class player coming in so we’ve been quite blessed the last couple of seasons with 13s and centres after Drico (Brian O’Driscoll).
“Before I would have had to step in a few times, or someone else would have had to step in, but we’ve got out-and-out 13s in depth now, which is great.
“I am not even looking past Scotland; it is the biggest week of my Irish career, yeah.
“It is a massive match for us and the pressure of playing in the Aviva; we have a good record there but the Scots are on a high at the moment.”
Earls went on to say he has found an increased enjoyment for the game and a more positive mentality that has come with age.
“The last 18 months is probably the most I have enjoyed rugby since I was about 13 years of age,” said Earls.
“When you’re enjoying something and it doesn’t seem like work you enjoy it a lot more. It’s what a lot of us do. It is our job, but we think it is everything, which it isn’t.
“I have been relaxing a bit as well. As I am getting older I am trying to find the one per cents between diet and stuff, the psychology and the visualisation; I have been working a bit with Keith Barry as well, just trying to get them one per cents, which seems to be working.
“I don’t want to get into the detail but he knows the brain better than anyone and just in terms of visualisation and stuff like that.”