Ireland Captain Rory Best Makes Gary Ringrose Plea

Rory Best has called for an end to the Brian O’Driscoll and Gary Ringrose comparisons.

The Ireland captain has pleaded for people to stop comparing the two, and let Ringrose realise his own potential.

Best believes that some extra breathing space for the young gun could prove the making of the hugely-gifted Ringrose.

Ringrose’s style of play and elusive running elicits obvious comparisons with Ireland legend O’Driscoll, but as one Leinster centre sets off on the same path as another, Best insists Ringrose must be allowed to become his own man.

“People just want this fantasy that there’s another Brian O’Driscoll out there: there isn’t another Brian O’Driscoll,” Best told Press Association Sport.

“There’s another great, young guy, who happens to be from Dublin who happens to play 13 – but he’s not going to be exactly the same.

“There are some things Garry doesn’t do as well as Drico, but there are other things he could potentially do better than Drico. He has to be his own player.

“I think people often want to draw similarities: people saw Drico thrown in as a 20-year-old so they say, ‘Let’s do that with Garry’.

“But the game’s very different now as well. You’ve got to give this guy a chance as Joe (Schmidt) has done, and now he’s reaping the benefits of it.

“Joe brought him into training and let him get his bearings and learn a little bit behind the scenes, and that’s definitely paid off.”

A valid point by the captain. Let Ringrose, be Ringrose and the rest will hopefully follow.