Garry Ringrose looking to bank Loftus Versfeld experience for Tests

While Leinster's season ended without a trophy for the third year in a row, Garry Ringrose is picking out the silver linings.

The province's campaign came to an end a week and a half ago with a 25-20 defeat to the Bulls in Pretoria in the URC semi-finals, as they struggled to get to grips with the challenge of the South African Highveld.

Remarkably, that URC meeting was Ringrose's first ever time playing in South Africa, having missed Ireland's 2016 tour due to injury, while never featuring on Leinster's URC and Pro14 trips down the years.

As luck would have it, Ringrose hasn't had to wait too long for a second South Africa trip. Just over a week, in fact.

Ireland's squad will arrive in Johannesburg today as they ramp up preparations for their first Test against the Springboks on Saturday 6 July, which will take place at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the same ground where Leinster were beaten by the Bulls.

"It was cool to be there and experience an iconic stadium like Loftus, the passionate fans and all that," the centre said.

"Hopefully the fact we've been there before helps, and it's not new."

While some of his Leinster and Ireland teammates are heading towards their 30th games of the season, Ringrose is bursting for some game-time after a lengthy injury layoff.

A shoulder injury picked up in January initially looked set to rule him out of Ireland's opening Six Nations game away to France, and maybe their second against Italy, but the issue persisted for more than four months.

An appearance off the bench for Ireland in their final Six Nations game against Scotland appeared to have him back on track, but after returning to his province things deteriorated again, sidelining him up until the URC semi-final defeat in South Africa.

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