Garry Ringrose

Garry Ringrose is the outside centre Ireland have organised their defence around for the better part of a decade, and the closest thing the team has to a second decision-maker in midfield.

The defensive reading is the elite trait. Thirteen is the hardest defensive position on the field — one bad read and the whole edge goes — and Ringrose consistently gets the timing of the shoot right, which lets Ireland defend aggressively without gambling.

With the ball he is a footwork player rather than a collision one. He beats defenders by arriving at an angle they have not accounted for, and his link with the winger outside him has been a reliable source of Irish tries.

The frustration has been injuries. Shoulders, jaw, concussion protocols — the interruptions have come often enough that he has never quite had the uninterrupted run his talent deserved.

Ireland have tried alternatives at thirteen and keep returning to him, which tells you what the coaching staff think of the trade-off.