Andrew Goodman said Garry Ringrose is "backing up his words with actions" after the Leinster centre produced yet another match-winning performance against Ulster.
Stand-in skipper Ringrose scored two brilliant tries in five second-half minutes on Saturday as 14-man Leinster rallied from 19 points down to maintain their 100% start to the season.
Goodman played alongside Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy during his Leinster playing days so he knows a thing or two about world-class centre play. The New Zealander has been blown away by Ringrose’s performances this season, but especially his leadership.
The Leinster attack coach said: "I talked to a number of boys after that performance and the way he got them together post [Cian Healy’s] red card and his leadership at half-time in getting the boys up for the challenge.
"To back his words up with actions - his footwork and ability to see space and to finish those two tries were pretty amazing.
"A great player on both sides of the ball. He’s great to have around the environment and is growing as a leader week-in week-out. He’s backing up his words with great performances."
The stunning comeback against Ulster made it nine wins from nine for Leinster this season. Despite rotating and blooding players, they have shown remarkable consistency, which has led to fierce competition for places ahead of Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup opener against Racing 92 in Le Havre.
"We've used a lot of squad members this year and the satisfying thing is there’s great competition in the squad," said Goodman.
"Heading into our first European game, there’s going to be some really tough calls around selection. Naturally a few boys will be hurting but the thing about this squad is they’ll knuckle down and prepare the 23 as best they can.
"That's one thing I've been really impressed around since coming to Leinster, the competitive trainings we have on Tuesday and Thursday.
"It’s a great position to be in but going over to Racing will be a step up in intensity and quality of opposition."
Racing are on a five-game winning streak in the Top 14 and were 31-14 victors away to Toulon on Sunday, despite sending a weakened squad.
The Parisians have lost three Champions Cup finals, including the 2018 decider to Leinster in Bilbao, and were beaten by eventual winners La Rochelle in last season’s semis.
"We had a look at that 2018 squad today," said Goodman. "There's still a number of guys around the squad, whether they’re playing or in the coaching group. They'll remember, and they’re got a strong, proud history in the Champions Cup, highlighted by the fact they rested a number of their top guys [against Toulon].
"They’re playing some unbelievable footy. We know how much they put on the European competition.
"Even on Sunday night, sending away the team they did to Toulon, and the result they got there, it was an amazing performance with a number of their top lads out.
"The number of threats they have across the backline, the width and speed they play with, defensively we’re going to have to be right on."
Watch Munster v Toulouse in the Heineken Champions Cup live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 2.30pm on Sunday
