Garry Ringrose 'all-in' ahead of rematch with All Blacks

It was eight years ago yesterday when Ireland made their breakthrough against the All Blacks at Soldier Field in Chicago.

It took 111 years for the men's team to win a game of Test rugby against New Zealand, and the dam has burst since, with Ireland winning five of their last nine meetings.

Garry Ringrose is likely to be in the starting line-up this Friday at Aviva Stadium, and while it will be his eighth time taking on the All Blacks, it will be his ninth time facing the Haka on the pitch.

The centre was part of the Ireland matchday squad on 5 November 2016 in Chicago, an uncapped 21-year-old wearing the 23 shirt, and in line for a debut, in at the deep end against the then world champions.

In the end, he had to sit and watch as Ireland pulled off a famous win, making his debut seven days later when Ireland welcomed Canada to Dublin.

"It was funny. I was 21. Myself and Joey Carbery were on the bench and both of us would have been nervous going into the game," he says as he looks back on that day.

"I was lucky to be on the plane because Keith Earls got injured during the week and that gave me the opportunity to be on the bench.

"I couldn't believe that I'd been selected. After the game I had a text or two saying hard luck that I hadn't got on, but I was laughing to myself because that didn't even cross my mind."

The fact that he was left on the bench didn’t bother him, even if Joe Schmidt felt the need to grab him for a reassuring word later that evening.

"I do remember after the game in the hotel, obviously everyone celebrating, he let me know, 'just a heads up, you're going to be starting next week against Canada’. I was pretty nervous from that point on.

"I wouldn't have expected or looked for an apology at all. Everyone was