I’LL MILK EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE FIT

GARRY RINGROSE says that playing England now is “different gravy” to what it was two years ago – but he admits there is no guarantee he will be involved at Twickenham.

Ringrose is focused on pushing himself in training in the coming days in a bid to make the trip.

The centre has missed the opening three games due to a shoulder injury he suffered in Leinster’s Champions Cup win over Leicester in mid-january.

“The competitor in me would love to try and be out there,” he said. “I feel lucky to be able to still be in the environment and Andy Farrell keeping me in there even though I have an injury.

“Seeing the lads go well and win, it feeds the appetite to try and get back and help the team out.”

Of his fitness race he added:

“Over the next week we’ll have to keep pushing it more, we did last week and found its limit. Hopefully we’ll get to a point where contact is perfect and I don’t have to think about it and it’ll be no problem.”

Ireland are favourites to bank a record 12th straight Six Nations win on Saturday week. But Ringrose insists that Andy

Farrell’s men must bring their best in every area.

“England, whether it’s at home or away, are an unbelievably tough team to play against,” he said.

“They are piecing things together and looking better. They’ll be disappointed with the Scotland game but there is so much in their game that will be a huge threat and then also a defence to play against. How they are playing now is different gravy altogether to what we’ve experienced in the last two years.”

■ GARRY RINGROSE was speaking as ambassador for the National Dairy Council and the NDC Guarantee Mark.