BLING RING
Leinster hero Garry targets more glittering prizes for Blues
GARRY RINGROSE has warned Munster that new European champions Leinster are hungrier than ever to do the double.
Leo Cullen and his players let their hair down in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s Champions Cup final win over Racing 92 in Bilbao. But they are back on the training ground today ahead of Saturday’s Pro14 semi-final clash with old foes Munster at the RDS.
And Ireland centre Ringrose insists focus won’t be a problem as the Blues chase a League and European double for the first time.
He said: “These games are as close to international Test matches as they come.
“It’s good to come back in this week and turn the page pretty quickly. It’s a standard that means you can’t just turn up on Saturday and expect to be there.
“With Munster being as good as they are and having the players they do, they will punish us if we do.
“We’re well aware of that. So we need to hit the ground running and not get distracted by last Saturday.”
It has been quite the year for the 23-year-old, who put injury behind him to also play his part in Ireland’s Grand Slam success.
Ringrose said: “It’s a bit surreal – you don’t really sit back and fully reflect on it. “It’s hard to pick between the two. It’s a massive honour being part of the Grand Slam but I feel similarly honoured to be part of the campaign here.
“I still consider myself incredibly lucky. I know with the Grand Slam, it was a result of other injuries that I got my opportunity. “Then, the competition in Leinster here, to be part of victories like that, it still hasn’t fully sunk in.
“You certainly appreciate it because when you’re injured you have lows along the way. It makes it all worthwhile, the hard work you put in.”
But Ringrose is not content with just the one European Cup in his time with Leinster and wants to drive on.
He continued: “It’s a good group of young guys that have come through but it’s ultimately the leaders that are driving the standard.
“The experience that we have in the group has been most vital to our success. It was a fourth European Cup for four of the guys, which is tough to even grasp.”