Grand Slam talk 'detrimental' ahead of Twickenham task - Garry Ringrose

Garry Ringrose is not on the Guinness Six Nations frontline but the Ireland centre can't be accused of slacking on his homework.

Having missed the opening three wins over France, Italy and Wales, the Leinster centre is in a race against time to overcome a shoulder injury and prove to Andy Farrell that he's the man for the job when Ireland visit Twickenham on Saturday week.

Speaking yesterday in his role as an ambassador for the National Dairy Council and the NDC Guarantee Mark, the 29-year-old revealed the extent of his injury - picked up while playing against Leicester on 20 January - and, while he was hopeful of finishing his rehab in time, it was certainly not a given, and there's little point in rushing back too soon.

"I guess it's a tricky one. You are always treading lightly or trying to get that right because it’s rarely black and white," he said.

"But even in training and the call to not be available for last week, the medical staff do everything to get it right but they also don’t push it unnecessarily, so they have a really good gauge.

"I have trust in them in what they think and then they also trust me in terms of what I’m feeling and thinking. That honesty gets us to a right decision ultimately.

"Through training hopefully that limit has been pushed, and we’ll get to a point where contact is perfect and I don’t have to think about it and it’ll be no problem. So, that’s what I’m hoping for."

The clock is ticking but Ringrose's diligence is evident.

If he does get the green light from the medics, he'll be first with his hand up in the team meetings when Ireland plot for a fourth successive win over Steve Borthwick's England, who beat Italy and Wales before losing to Scotland last weekend.

"You kind of need everything to