Garry Ringrose on the Springboks

While Leinster's season ended without a trophy for the third year in a row, Garry Ringrose is picking out the silver linings.

The province's campaign came to an end a week and a half ago with a 25-20 defeat in Pretoria in the URC semi-finals, as they struggled to get to grips with the challenge of the South African Highveld.

Remarkably, that URC meeting was Ringrose's first ever time playing in South Africa, having missed Ireland's 2016 tour due to injury, while never featuring on Leinster's URC and Pro14 trips down the years.

As luck would have it, Ringrose hasn't had to wait too long for a second South Africa trip. Just over a week, in fact.

Ireland's squad will arrive in Johannesburg today as they ramp up preparations for their first Test against the Springboks on Saturday 6 July, which will take place at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the same ground where Leinster were beaten by the Bulls.

"It was cool to be there and experience an iconic stadium like Loftus, the passionate fans and all that," the centre said.

"Hopefully the fact we've been there before helps, and it's not new."

While some of his Leinster and Ireland teammates are heading towards their 30th games of the season, Ringrose is bursting for some game-time after a lengthy injury layoff.

 

A shoulder injury picked up in January initially looked set to rule him out of Ireland's opening Six Nations game away to France, and maybe their second against Italy, but the issue persisted for more than four months.

An appearance off the bench for Ireland in their final Six Nations game against Scotland appeared to have him back on track, but after returning to his province things deteriorated again, sidelining him up until the URC semi-final defeat in South Africa.

"It was just slow, I had a really simple fracture that didn't need any surgery or anything, it was just bone healing, time, so thankfully I was able to train throughout with non-contact.

"It was just slow to take, and was back to Santry checking in. As much as I was pushing the dial, trying to get back to play, the surgeons and medical team at Leinster and Ireland were thinking more about my safety than I was.

"I was grateful to be able to get back towards the end, despite not getting the result we wanted. To get selected to be in camp and get a chance to play, I feel extra lucky.

"It's kind of the nature of the beast. You're rehabbing at Leinster and you see guys who have much more difficult injuries puts things into perspective.

"Thankfully I was still able to train, but you want to be playing or at least put your hand up to be selected. It's great to be able to get back for the end of the season. Not the plan, outcome wise, but I'm lucky to get the opportunity here. I'm excited for any opportunity I could get," he added.

The Test series will be just a third tour of South Africa for Ireland this century, as they look for a first series win away to the Springboks.

Ireland recent record in this fixture is impressive, winning the last three meetings in 2017 and 2022 in Dublin and at last year's World Cup.

 

But Ringrose says he doesn't expect history to have any bearing on the upcoming Tests in Pretoria and Durban.

"I guess it's unbelievably special opportunity to play against the back-to-back world champions.

"It's tough to take when you lose, but you've got to admire what they've done. To get the opportunity to challenge ourselves against them. It's as good as it gets.

"The two games I've been involved in [2022 and 2023] have been so tight and the result has fallen on the most minute moments. Unbelievably special days to be a part of, but it doesn't change how much respect and how motivated we'll be to prepare to try and do that again.

"Our results certainly don't count for much. It's to try prepare as well as we did previously, if not more considering the other World Cup. They've improved since we last played them, definitely," he added.