The future of Irish Rugby: Ringrose and Carbery

The 2016/17 season has, thus far, been one of real optimism for Leinster fans.

After uncharacteristically struggling as an attacking force last season, the province have looked a much more proficient offensive side over the last six months, something which has culminated in their place in the Champions Cup semi-finals, as well as seeing them top of the Guinness PRO12 table with two games left to play.

There are a number of factors behind this, including the end of Ireland’s post-Rugby World Cup hangover and the addition of Stuart Lancaster as senior coach, but none perhaps as impactful as the initial emergence and now development of young stars, Garry Ringrose and Joey Carbery.

Ringrose was singled out for stardom from an early age, but really cemented that prophesising when he shone at the 2014 Junior World Championship, helping guide Ireland to a semi-final appearance. Before the tournament was even over, the comparisons to Brian O’Driscoll were being made.

You could argue they were premature comparisons but now, at just 22 years of age, Ringrose is already beginning to fill those sizable boots at both provincial and Test levels.

He made his international bow this season against Canada and has been ever-present in the side since, making himself an integral component in Joe Schmidt’s offensive and defensive game plans.

Like O’Driscoll, Ringrose has, due to his importance to Leinster and Ireland, quickly moved into the role of being used selectively by his province. Having been a regular for Ireland and featured in all seven of their Champions Cup games to date, the young outside centre has been limited to just seven appearances in Leinster’s 20 PRO12 games.

This policy of rotation doesn’t sit well with many of the PRO12’s fans, but the positive effects it has for the Irish national team, Leinster’s Champions Cup campaign and Ringrose himself are undeniable.

This has been illustrated by Ringrose being the leading back in carries and offloads, as well as accounting for the second most defenders beaten, in the Champions Cup this season.

Beyond his role and the statistics, more comparisons with the legendary O’Driscoll are emerging since his step up to the senior level.

He displays all the necessary balance to allow him to shift his point of contact and the requisite footwork to leave defenders flat-footed that helped O’Driscoll prosper for so many years, as well as the understanding of when to simply lower his head and run hard and straight, for the benefits it will bring his side a phase or two down the road. He is constantly improving as a defender, with his reading of the game reaching new levels this season, whilst his distribution in the wider channels is noteworthy, but certainly an area where he still needs to work on.

Ultimately, Ringrose is the first coming of Ringrose, rather than the second coming of O’Driscoll, but it is impossible not to compare the two when you look at the positions they both play, how they both play those positions and the seamless steps they have taken moving from age-grade to provincial to Test rugby.

And now we come to Carbery.

The New Zealand-born back also made his international debut this season, featuring in the Ireland side that defeated the All Blacks at Soldier Field in Chicago, but has not been the regular in the side since that Ringrose has become.

Whilst Ringrose has been used in that selective way, Carbery has been one of the regulars in the PRO12, featuring in 14 of Leinster’s 20 games. He has shone in those appearances, whether at fly-half or full-back, and his eight tries in the competition are good enough to have him tied for second most in the league.

With Jonathan Sexton fit and Ross Byrne emerging, there has been an effort to get Carbery on the pitch alongside these playmakers and that has seen him excel at full-back, a position that he may be best-suited to as his career evolves.

He has given Leinster the kicking game to control the territory battle from the back, as well as the array of passes and subtle touches to link play in the wider channels when he joins the back line in attack. Key to his success at full-back, however, has been the regular opportunities to display his counter-attacking ability, something which he had fewer chances to do at fly-half.

At just 21 years of age, Carbery, like Ringrose, has time on his side and is set to form the core of an extremely exciting Leinster back line for years to come. The pair are joined by Ross Byrne, Adam Byrne and Robbie Henshaw, all of whom are 23-years-old or younger, as well as the incoming James Lowe from the Chiefs.

As a group, it’s enough to have Lancaster salivating about their potential and that’s before even considering the likes of Jordan Larmour and Jack Kelly, who are currently shining for the Ireland U20 side.

But, that is for the future.

Right now, a Champions Cup semi-final and the PRO12 playoffs loom for Leinster and both will pose great challenges to the duo of Carbery and Ringrose.

They have taken their first steps in international rugby and made themselves integral parts of their province’s plans for the present and the future, but ultimately legacies are made by winning trophies and the pair have the opportunity in the coming weeks to start what they and Leinster fans will hope is an extensive haul of winners’ medals.

If a new Leinster dynasty is on the cards, this pair will be at the heart of it.