Ireland center Garry Ringrose has ruled out any Grand Slam talk ahead of this weekend’s Six Nations final with France.
France head to the Aviva Stadium looking to bounce back from a narrow 24-29 win over Italy, while Ireland claimed their first win over Wales in Cardiff in a decade as they beat Warren Gatland’s side 10-34.
Round two of the Six Nations will see the two favorites face each other in what is being billed as a Grand Slam decider, with the result between the two sides in Paris ultimately deciding the Championship as France triumphed and the next three games won. .
‘Everyone is vulnerable’
Ringrose, however, does not believe that the players in Dublin this weekend will be assured of winning their remaining three matches and completing the Grand Slam.
“I don’t think so, no,” said the 28-year-old. “In my experience in the Six Nations, everyone has the ability to beat everyone. Everyone is at risk of losing to everyone.
“(We will take it) one week at a time, raising our game against the team we lost to last year in Paris and the year before that in the Aviva (Stadium). That will be the focus.”
Andy Farrell has guided Ireland to the top of the world rankings since replacing Joe Schmidt after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and although they have created history under his tutelage, France are the only team yet to win .
Fabien Galthie’s team beat Ireland twice in the Stade France (35-27 and 30-24) and were successful in the Aviva in 2021 (15-13).
Deja vu
After a fast start against Wales in round one, Ringrose is keen to avoid a sense of deja vu to last year’s Six Nations when Ireland were ultimately wrong when Antoine Dupont scored in the first two minutes.
“Reflecting on the start of the game last year, they started really well with the quick line; I think it was Dupont,” Ringrose said.
“They gave us a hold on the lover. They broke us on the counter attack.
“It was a big start for us (next week) to keep them out with the threat they pose, almost from anywhere, a broken play or a set piece they have up front with their forwards.
“We have to be really dialed in to not let their power play get us, as well as being able to defend the serious try scorers they have on the rim.”
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The article Six Nations: Ireland center Garry Ringrose out of Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France appeared first on Planetrugby.com.