We must mind our young stars like Garry Ringrose, says Sean O’Brien
Before the Six Nations, former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll suggested that Ringrose could provide an attacking spark to the national team, but O’Brien, the player’s provincial team-mate, argued that the 21-year-old would struggle to compete physically at that level.
“He [Schmidt] is trying to develop him and mind his body. It’s different for someone who’s had a bit of experience, had a year under his belt. If Garry goes in next year into the Six Nations, we’ll see a different Garry in terms of his physicality, in terms of his smartness,” O’Brien said at a competition launch for the Samsung S7.
“He will be a different player again. He will be a step-up from where he is now. You fire him in there this year, I guarantee he gets hurt. You’ve big centres running down his channel. They’re going to run straight into him. Regardless of how talented you are, you’re going to get hurt,” he continued.
“It’s definitely the right idea about what the coaches are doing with these young lads, who are phenomenally talented, but, there is a way of bringing them into the system.
“You put Garry in this year, you’re taking out an experienced fella like Jared [Payne] or Robbie [Henshaw] or Lukey [Fitzgerald], even when he’s fit, who has experience, someone who’s very physical, someone who’s smart.
“You’re putting in a young fella, because he’s playing well for his club. Can he do it at international level? The thing about it is you don’t know if he’s able to do it at international. You’re taking a huge risk there. He will do it at international level, but, as I said, I think it’s the right thing to do with some of these very talented guys, make sure they’re coming through the right way, are developed enough to last for Irish rugby.”
Ringrose has started 14 games for Leinster in his rookie campaign, but the centre has been earmarked to make the step up since his schooldays with Blackrock College in Dublin.
Another player who is garnering similar attention coming up through the ranks is James Ryan. The second row captained the Ireland Under-20s in the Six Nations this season and, despite his obvious talent, O’Brien said Irish coaches need to ensure players such as Ryan and Ringrose aren’t overexposed in the early stages of their careers.
“[Ryan] is going to be a huge talent. He’s going to be a great player. There has to be a process to bring him on, to make sure he’s playing rugby for Leinster and Ireland in 10 years time. He is phenomenal for his age and one of the standout players of the whole tournament,” said O’Brien.
“We don’t have enough of them [quality young players] coming through to be firing them in the deep end. We’re not like New Zealand or Australia. We have to mind these lads to a certain extent until they’re physically able to keep going week-after-week. You throw him in now and he is finished in six years, maybe.”
As for O’Brien, the Ireland and Leinster flanker feels he is still a month away from regaining fitness after he tore a tendon off the bone in his hamstring against France. He should return in time for Leinster’s title charge in the Guinness PRO12, but won’t be tempted to rush his rehabilitation.
“I’m not contemplating coming back early, but I’m contemplating coming back when I’m right.
“If I was younger, I think you would be rushing back and trying to do what you do, but there’s no point in my coming back and pulling it again, so it has to be completely 100% right.”
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