Garry Ringrose: 'The Aviva has always been special and every result adds to that legacy'

The renewal of what has become one of the fiercest rivalries in Test rugby over the last nine years had Ringrose recalling the Test debut that never was back in Chicago in 2016

Ringrose is about to make his 61st cap for Ireland. 

Sixty caps into a successful Test career, Garry Ringrose thinks as fondly about a game he didn’t play in as much as the ones he did.

Cap 61 for the 29-year-old centre is expected to come this Friday night when New Zealand return to Aviva Stadium, Dublin, for the first time since 2021, with Andy Farrell set to name his matchday squad at 2pm on Thursday. Yet the renewal of what has become one of the fiercest rivalries in Test rugby over the last nine years had Ringrose recalling the Test debut that never was for him back in Chicago at Soldier Field in 2016.

That was the day that Ireland finally beat the All Blacks for the first time in 105 years of trying and a callow Leinster midfielder was an unused number 23 as the Irish recorded the initial win of the five in the last nine meetings between the sides.

“It was funny, I was 21,” Ringrose said. “Myself and Joey Carbery (also 21 and uncapped) were on the bench and both of us would have been nervous going into the game.

“I was lucky to be on the plane because Keith Earls got injured during the week and that gave me the opportunity to be on the bench. I couldn't believe that I'd been selected. After the game I had a text or two saying ‘hard luck’ that I hadn't got on but I was laughing to myself because that didn't even cross my mind.

“To be there for such a special occasion, I felt I was lucky to be over there. Even the fact that Joey came on and played so well, I was coat-tailling on how well he had done because we had gone through the week together.

“It wouldn't have been a thing, any sort of frustration. I was just excited to be there and experience such a monumental day in Irish sports history, I think. Since then, I guess I've been lucky to play in the ones here.”

Ringrose is about to make his 61st cap for Ireland. 

Ringrose did not have to wait long to earn his Test debut from then head coach Joe Schmidt and explained: “I can't remember exactly (what Schmidt said) but I do remember after the game in the hotel, obviously everyone celebrating, he let me know, just a heads up, you're going to be starting next week against Canada.

“I was pretty nervous from that point on (but) I wouldn't have expected or looked for an apology at all. Everyone was buzzing, it wasn't even a thing.” 

Ringrose’s second cap came off the bench the week after his Ireland debut, as New Zealand exacted their own form of retribution for their Soldier Field loss in a brutal 21-9 win at the Aviva and he started in the number 13 jersey in six of the seven clashes which have followed: victories in Dublin in 2018 and 2021 and the second Test in Dunedin, a head injury in that first victory on Kiwi soil forcing him out of the third Test series-clinching win the following week in Wellington.

“There was one game (2018, a 16-9 win) the autumn after the Lions tour when Robbie and Bundee would have been together and one centre was injured which gave me the opportunity to play and get the win on a special night in the Aviva.

“Experiences like that stand out and you never take them for granted, to be lucky enough to beat such an exceptional side. It'll take everything this week to try and repeat that.” 

There is a lot to be said for home comforts and Ireland will go into Friday’s Autumn Nations Series opener looking to extend a 19-match winning run at the Aviva with a win over New Zealand.

“It's such a special place for us to play,” Ringrose said. “I think it's continuing to become more special with every experience we have there, some results where our backs are against the wall.

“Even thinking back, talking about that Canada game, that November in the last Test of that series (v Australia), I think it was Besty's 100th cap, there were a few injuries before the game because I was playing 12 which wouldn't be my first-choice, and then throughout the game, I think Marms (Kieran Marmion) was on the wing, Joey Carbery was full-back, but you come out the other end and win a game like that, it just adds to it, us feeling how special those nights can be.

“It makes us all appreciate what's coming up this weekend. It's always been special but with every result we have there, it just kind of adds to the legacy and we certainly want to keep that going.”