Isa Nacewa says Garry Ringrose ‘is going to be world class’

Leinster captain Isa Nacewa has backed exciting rookie Garry Ringrose to become a world-class player if he continues to progress on his current trajectory.

The 20-year-old Blackrock College product has long been tipped for stardom after a glittering underage career and he has looked right at home in the Guinness Pro12 — both in the centre and on the wing — since making his debut against Cardiff Blues in September, clocking up 80 minutes in each of his four appearances to date and scoring a try against Newport Gwent Dragons.

It is an introduction that has impressed the recently returned Nacewa who believes Ringrose can make an impact both in midfield and out wide.

“Garry took me completely by surprise when I got here in the amount of work he does off the field for a young guy,” Nacewa said yesterday at the Champions Cup launch in London. “He has never been fazed between swapping between 12, 13 and the wing.

“Even in training, he just happily gets on with the job, he’ll put his head down and go and review training and get on with the job the next day.

“He’s going to be a world-class player but taking it a week at a time because he knows that’s as far as he wants to look ahead.

“Gary was man of the match in his last outing at the RDS and he has taken every opportunity he can to perform. Everything he has done off the field has been spot on as well. He’s just excited to be around all the internationals as well and play alongside them.

“Ross Molony as well has been a standout forward in the last six weeks for us. Gary admitted it was intimidating for him but then he just gets excited. He is not getting caught up in the moment, just getting on with the job.”

Ringrose has not been the only Leinster player to have been lifted by the return of the province’s sizeable contingent in Ireland’s World Cup squad.

Johnny Sexton made his first appearance since re-signing from Racing Metro in last Sunday’s bonus-point win in Treviso with Jack McGrath grabbing one of their four tries. More have been re-integrated this week ahead of the clash with league leaders Scarlets at the RDS on Friday night, the final game before the Champions Cup opener at home to Wasps, and Nacewa said their return to the fold has been more than welcome. “We had a really young squad during the World Cup but it brought a different level of energy and buzz around the place,” the captain said.

“There was a genuine competition when the guys were away, a fight for places. Throw 19 more players in the mix and the standard and level goes up a good few notches. They obviously came back in different shapes and forms mentally and physically after the World Cup.

“Jonny not being involved post-France was great for us because he got a run out against Treviso and everything goes up a notch, the excitement does too.”