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Ringrose performance earns high praise

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Leo Cullen has moved to keep the pressure off Garry Ringrose after the young centre starred in Leinster’s victory over Munster.

Leo Cullen has moved to keep the pressure off Garry Ringrose after the young centre starred in Leinster’s victory over Munster.

The 20-year-old, starting in the No.13 jersey, set up a try for Isa Nacewa after just three minutes and helped lay the foundations for a 24-7 triumph.

He was so impressive that Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll believes he should feature in the men in green’s 2016 RBS 6 Nations opener, tweeting: “@IrishRugby could do a whole lot worse than going with Garry Ringrose against Wales on Feb 7th.”

But Leinster chief Cullen is doing his best to keep a lid on things for Ringrose, who was nominated for the 2014 World Rugby Junior Player of the Year.

“I think he is a very good outside-centre,” Cullen told the Irish Independent. “We try to just bring Garry through slowly this season. He’s working away really, really well all of the time.

“It’s a really competitive area for us. We’ve got lots of options there, which is pleasing.

“I have no influence over who starts for Ireland in the Six Nations so maybe the Irish coaches may have an issue with Brian rather than me.

“We want our young players to be able to play for Leinster for 12 to 15 years so that’s an important part of it. There’s a lot of games this season and we want to make sure that guys come through in the right manner.

“How big is big for international rugby? Shane Williams played a lot of international games and he is not bigger than Garry Ringrose.

“That’s for someone else to decide. Garry will more than likely get more games for Leinster between now and then so we’ll see.”

Click here for the 2016 RBS 6 Nations schedule