Garry Ringrose targets fast start with England coming to town

Twelve months ago, there was a fear in the air that Ireland would struggle to shake off their World Cup hangover as they prepared to travel to Marseille for their Guinness Six Nations opener away to France.

Ireland had traditionally been fast starters in campaigns under Andy Farrell's watch, but with Johnny Sexton retired and the World Cup exit still raw, an away trip to France felt like the last thing they wanted, and needed.

In the end, they exploded out of the blocks at Stade Velodrome that night, and their record-breaking 38-17 win is up there Ireland's best ever Six Nations outings.

They’ve struggled to hit those heights since, particularly early in campaigns. In their first Test defeat away to South Africa last summer they looked sluggish, while they were off the pace in their Autumn Nations Series opener against the All Blacks in November.

And with England coming to Aviva Stadium on Saturday in their 2025 Six Nations opener, Garry Ringrose knows another slow start could leave them chasing their tails across the remaining four games.

"I think we grew as the games went on," the centre says of their November campaign.

"It was disappointing to start with that result but each game there was new combinations, trying different things. Some worked, some didn't and we evolved as November went on and learned important lessons.

"Certainly the importance of starting well in any campaign and maybe going through that experience has made us narrow the focus. Not that we would have taken our eye off the ball but it sharpens the focus to make sure we prepare as well and start as well against England as we can."

It doesn't feel long ago that Ringrose was seen as the next Big Thing in Irish rugby, and the heir to Brian O’Driscoll’s 13