Garry Ringrose should be an option on the wing if he doesn’t start in the midfield, Alan Quinlan said on Monday’s OTB AM.
Although Keith Earls has today been declared fit for the World Cup, he was forced off during the second half with a quad injury in the win over Wales on Saturday.
This prompted Quinlan to say that if Earls can’t feature against Scotland, Ringrose would be another option for the wing.
“Ringrose is an option on the wing.
“He has the ability, he played for Leinster there when he first came on the scene and was brilliant on the wing for them,” he said.
Quinlan wrote over the weekend that because of the weaknesses that are apparent in Ireland’s physical game, he would prefer Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw in centre.
Despite Ringrose being one of Ireland’s most naturally talented players, Quinlan said he would like Ireland to be more physical in the midfield.
“Aki and Henshaw I thought played well and Ringrose can come back in there, absolutely no problem.
“I think he’s an incredible player but I want to see some more ‘confrontational’ stuff - old Munster rugby stuff,” he added.
Quinlan explained how Ringrose would be unlucky not to start against Scotland but he could make an impact from the wing.
“When you take a talented, evasive and gifted player out of a midfield and then you put in a more robust player it won’t be as creative.
“Aki is a very talented footballer, and he can offload and do all that stuff, but neither [Aki and Henshaw] are as creative as Garry Ringrose.
“Robbie Henshaw is a brilliant player - he’s all action. But I think that subtle action that can unlock a defence, take a defender on on-on-one, Ringrose does that better than the others,” Quinlan outlined.
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