We’ve no problem in getting straight back down to business: Ringrose

THE laurels are not feeling the love around Leinster, there is no time for resting. Already the talk is of Munster and a European/ PRO14 double.

The Red Army are ready to crash their old foes’ Champions Cup homecoming at the RDS on Saturday, but if Garry Ringrose is anything to go by there will be no complacency in the blue corner.

Forty-eight hours after a first European success in blue, the 23-year-old is already “turning the page” and focusing on the Guinness PRO14 semi-final.

He is consistent in his reluctance to dwell on past success. In the days after he scored a try in Ireland’s Grand Slam-securing win in Twickenham, he was honing in on Saracens.

This is a young man for whom the next job is always more im- portant than the shiny new medal in his back pocket.

“It’s a bit surreal,” he replied when asked about Saturday’s win over Racing 92. “You don’t really sit back and fully reflect on it.

“You enjoy the moment out there as we did on Saturday but similarly with the Grand Slam, we had Saracens in the quarter-final so you had to turn the page quickly and it’s a similar challenge now with Munster.”

Still, he allowed some room for celebration before moving on.

“It’s nice to spend time with family and friends,” he said. “I know that my family feel the pressure as well so they are pretty relieved.”

Perhaps it is just as well that Ringrose is so focused.

A less mentally strong young player would be burdened by the jersey he wears. On the front are the three — soon to be four — stars to represent Leinster’s European history and on the back is the number of the man who perhaps contributed most to securing those titles.

“It wouldn’t have been a burden,” he said of that pressure.

“You spend your whole time dreaming of getting an opportunity like that and then it comes so quickly and it’s finished so quickly so it’s hard to put into words what it would mean for myself, my family and friends.

“You don’t reflect on it too much once it’s happened because it changed for Saracens and now for Munster. You enjoy the 24 hours after the game but now it’s straight back down to business.”

Leinster are fully aware of what’s coming their way at the RDS on Saturday afternoon.

“It is a standard that means you can’t just turn up on Saturday and expect to be there,” added Ringrose.

“With Munster being as good as they are and having the players they do, they will punish us if we do. We’re all well aware of that.”

That’s the message and Ringrose is firmly on it. Page turner: Garry Ringrose is focused on Munster challenge