EXPERIENCE IS OVERRATED, according to Jared Payne as he heads into a second Test with new centre partner Garry Ringrose.
The duo were forced into an unexpected first outing in tandem after just 11 minutes of last weekend’s defeat to New Zealand as Ringrose replaced the injured Robbie Henshaw and operated as an inside centre for the first time since Leinster U20s.
The 21-year-old has been selected for his first senior start as a number 12 against the Wallabies in the fourth and final of this year’s November Tests.
It may be just his third cap and first start against a Tier one nation, but Payne doesn’t expect to do much in the way of shepherding Ringrose as he adapts to a new stage and position.
“In terms of experience, he doesn’t need any of that. You just tell him to do his thing and back himself, and he’s a smart enough and good enough player to do that,” says the 31-year-old Ulster back.
“I think there’s always all this chat about experience and stuff, but it comes down to the individual. If they’re confident enough to show their wares and play rugby, and he was, then you don’t need experience. It’s all a bit of a show.
“There’s nothing I really have to adapt: I just tell Garry to back himself and do his thing, and if he does that then I’m sure you’re going to see a pretty awesome performance again.
He backed himself, doesn’t need experienced people around him chirping in his ear. He just backed himself and plays his rugby, which is awesome.”
“I thought he was outstanding last week. He got thrown out there pretty early and the way he adapted to the 12 position, some of the carries he made and the nice footwork to get through a few holes was pretty impressive.”
Payne adds: “You see what he does on the training pitch and see what type of person he is and that’s what you judge him on. He’s been absolutely unbelievable in those facets.”
Aside from laying credit with Ringrose, Payne was reluctant to pass on much in the way of collective credit for his side’s loss to the All Blacks.
“People are saying it was a good game, but we were quite hurt from it,” says Payne.
“We let a few chances slip, and we’re probably a lot tougher on ourselves than the press have been. So we’ve been trying to right a few wrongs on the training pitch this week.
“We let a few chances slip at the weekend which was disappointing, so we’ll try to step it up a level this week.”
Before the Wallabies’ last visit, Payne made his debut against South Africa, but suffered a late injury to stall his relationship-building with Robbie Henshaw. This weekend will see Payne take on the Wallabies for the first time, a landmark day for any self-respecting Kiwi. At least there’s something that Irish and New Zealand players and fans can agree on.
“I’ve had a few texts from the ABs saying: ‘make sure and beat the Aussies for us’.
“It’s always nice to get one over on them.”
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