Brian Fenton ruled the skies in Croke Park for a decade so it's not perhaps that surprising that Ireland have called in the former Dublin footballer for a few tips on aerial battles.
The Raheny man’s decision last November, aged 31, to call time on his Gaelic football career, after seven All-Ireland, six All-Stars, and two Footballer of the Year awards, came as a huge surprise.
Just three months into his inter-country retirement, Fenton rocked up at the IRFU’s High Performance Centre to share his experience from over 10 years of high catches under attack from all angles.
With the new clampdown on obstruction being implemented by officials, back-field receivers and kick-chasers have had to make huge adjustments to their approach and technique under the high ball.
Ireland winger James Lowe spoke last week of how the classic 'Gaelic football' catch would now become a bigger part of rugby union so it only makes sense to turn to Fenton for advice.
"He's some man to win a ball in the midfield and, with the new rules, we were asking him for some tips and cues that he uses that helped him through his career," Ireland centre Garry Ringrose said.
"There's loads of crossover between high-performance environments so I was picking his brain a little bit and even on some of the aerial stuff so it was really cool having him in.
"It's just a massive challenge and right from the kick-execution to the timing of the chase, the entry into the contest, trying to win the breaking ball, there's loads of different aspects and it was just really cool hearing his perspective, what helped him through the years."
Born and raised in Dublin, Ringrose didn’t play Gaelic football in his youth, but was a big fan of the Boys in Blues as they dominated the championship over the last 14 years.
"I’m certainly a big fan of him and the Dubs and what they’ve managed to do," added the 30-year-old, who signed a new three-year central contract during the week to keep him with Ireland and Leinster until 2028 at least.
"I'm an admirer. I played soccer when I was younger alongside rugby, so I always admired the footballers, but no, I wouldn't be good enough to go toe-to-toe with any of them.
"Everyone in the room, even outside of Dublin, would admire what he was a part of. At no point did he mention the word ‘I’. He was very insistent on him being part of a great team and culture.
"Any environment that has achieved huge success for a prolonged period of time, all of us would be keen to know what they’re doing, what they’re thinking.
"From the game perspective, talking about the aerial battle, it was great getting his insights into how he approached it and how the team approached it."
Ringrose made his international debut in 2016 and has won 65 caps and scored 15 tries.
He’s been a regular for most of that time but started on the bench in Sunday's win over Scotland with interim head coach Simon Easterby opting to go with Connacht’s Bundee Aki and Leinster’s Robbie Henshaw.
Under Andy Farrell, currently on Lions duty, it was often the case that injury to one or other of the trio would make the selection decision easier, while Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey has been in the mix too.
"I think certainly as centres we'd be pretty open and relaxed amongst each other," said Ringrose, who can also play on the wing, of the dynamic.
"Over the last couple of years, we've all been challenged to play on any given week, either it's rotation, injury, form.
"And what's brilliant is it's really competitive in training but then at the end of the day, certainly as a centre group, we just want to do our best to help the team win.
"If you ask Bundee or Robbie at the moment that are rotating, and there's a few guys that haven't been in yet, that would be their answer as well.
"There’s an expectation that you have to find a way to be mentally ready, whether you’re called in the first minute or the last.
"It’s a challenge I enjoy getting after wherever I’m required to help the team, whether it’s on the wing or in the centre, I’m happy to give it a go."
Ringrose was a somewhat surprising omission from the Lions squad for South Africa in 2021 but, with two more Six Nations titles under his belt, is on course for a call-up under Farrell.
"It would be a dream to be involved but I know that's something I don't have control over," he said.
"I'm in control of how I can turn up to train and prepare for the Six Nations games and take full advantage of any opportunities I get, whether it's on the bench or starting or not involved, and that'd be just at the forefront of my focus."
Back-to-back champions Ireland are on course to retain their Guinness Six Nations title, having seen off what were regarded as potentially tricky opponents in England and Scotland in the opening rounds.
Wales, on a run of 14 defeats and with Matt Sherratt recently installed as interim coach following Warren Gatland’s departure, are next on the menu on Saturday week.
Easterby, who lives in Wales, has been linked to the role but a switch is seen as unlikely.
The 49-year-old has been, since 2014, an assistant under Joe Schmidt and Farrell but enjoys a lower profile that either of his predecessors, even for someone who played 65 times for Ireland and twice for the Lions.
Ringrose said: "He has a great sense of humour, he has everyone smiling in the room, but then he has the ability to flick the switch and demand the very best out of us when it comes to defence.
"He’s great to work with because he’s really open-minded, and he’s constantly trying to evolve and get better. He’d be big on not sitting still or settling.
"Even after a good performance, he’d always be keen to figure out where a team exposed us, where they could have exposed us.
"Getting to work with someone like that is great."
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