Garry Ringrose says he has enjoyed the step-up from provincial to Test rugby and was delighted to get a win on his debut against Canada.
Ringrose, along with Jack O’Donoghue and Billy Holland, started in the eight-try demolition of Canada, with James Tracy, John Ryan, Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath and Niyi Adeolokun all getting their first taste of international rugby off the bench.
The Leinster centre told RTÉ Sport that it was a special day for him and “everyone who has helped me get to this point” after he was an unused substitute in the historic win over the All Blacks in Chicago last weekend.
The 21-year-old admitted he was “fresh and ready” after watching on from the sidelines at Soldier Field and almost put the icing on the cake when he appeared to cap his first game with a try.
Paddy Jackson found the centre who raced through to touch down in the first half, but referee Marius van der Westhuizen deemed the pass to be a forward one.
Even that however couldn’t dampen the debutant’s spirits.
“It was too good to be true...it was a great ball by Paddy, but the referee called it back,” he said.
“I can’t complain, I’m over the moon to get a win like that, to get through it safely. I’m delighted with the result.”
Ringrose paid tribute to the more experienced players in the squad with so many fresh faces involved, saying “the senior guys really stood up and made their voices heard and our jobs easier” and was then asked if there was noticeable jump from provincial to international rugby.
“Not just in the 80 minutes, but what is expected of you all week,” he responded.
“I had been in a couple of camps, but this is the first overall 32-man squad I have been named in.
“To be over in Chicago and getting experience of what is expected of the players, it is a real step-up”
