Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Jordan Larmour on Charlie Ngatai's big moment in Belfast - and on getting back into the Ireland team

Leinster's winning start to the season could have gone off the rails in Belfast but for Charlie Ngatai's brilliant try save in Belfast.

And while Jason Jenkins has clearly brought so much to the Blues' pack since joining Munster in the summer, Jordan Larmour believes that Ngatai, another new recruit, can have a massive impact in the backline.

The Kiwi played in over 50 Super Rugby games with the Hurricanes and Chiefs before spending four years with Lyon.

READ MORE: Padraic Joyce set for three more years as Galway boss

So with Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose so high on Ireland's needed list, the 32-year-old can play an influential role for Leinster this term.

He has already played a crucial part. Ulster had fired back into the contest at the Kingspan Stadium last Friday night and with 11 minutes left thought they had scored a try to make it a five-point game.

However replays showed that Ngatai brilliantly knocked the ball from Aaron Sexton's hands as he dived to score and Leinster held on.

"It was a big moment, yeah," said Larmour. "It was a huge moment.

"It's something that we talk about, having big moments in the championship minutes when everything is on the line. He really put his hand up there, he worked hard to knock the ball out of Aaron Sexton's hands.

"Charlie is a great lad on and off the pitch, he brings great energy and he put a few big shots in on the weekend as well, so he had a really good game. I'll be looking forward to seeing him in action again.

"He's got a bit of everything, I suppose. He's big, he's physical, he can run over the top of you or run around you, but another thing is that his hands are very good.

"His skill set is very good, he can kick the ball and has a really good passing game and he sees the game really well, he can put you in holes for you to go through.

"So he's a really exciting player, I've enjoyed playing alongside him in games and on the training pitch, I think the fans will like him."

As for himself, Larmour has recovered from a pre-season knee niggle and is looking to hit top form over the next block of games with November in mind - and starting with Saturday's clash with the Sharks at the RDS.

The Ireland international did tour New Zealand in the summer with Andy Farrell's squad but the two games he started were against the NZ Maoris and not the Test matches.

Nevertheless he loved being a part of history in the making. "It was a cool place to be," said Larmour.

Injuries could limit Farrell's back three options in November, with James Lowe, Hugo Keenan, Andrew Conway and Jacob Stockdale all injured at present.

However competition is intense and the 25-year-old wants to win his old starting place back. A strong display against South Africa opposition, with the Springboks coming to Dublin on November 4, would help his cause.

"You've got to be putting your hand up if you want to get picked for the national team, so you have to play well and show what you're about," Larmour stated.

"When it comes down to it you've got to be playing better than other lads to get ahead of them.

"I know I've got to play well to get picked so I'm just focusing on doing my role for the team and doing the best that I can.

"You don't want to put too much pressure on yourself. It's a fine balance of knowing you have to play well but also just focus on your own job and not listen to the outside noise.

"Then it's about trying to get the best out of yourself."

READ NEXT:

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.