Advertisement
Dan Sheridan/INPHO

Brace brings Earls outright second spot on Ireland's all-time try-scoring list

The Limerick man shared second spot for almost two years with Tommy Bowe, but moved two closer to Brian O’Driscoll today.

KEITH EARLS SPENT 19 months in joint second place among Ireland’s all-time leading try-scorers.

Tonight, the number two spot is his alone and Tommy Bowe slips down a peg.

Earls scored his 30th try in the March 2019 Six Nations clash with France. He has played in 11 Tests since without touching down, but he was the clinical finisher Ireland needed to swing today’s season-ender against Scotland.

His first bore the hallmarks of a poacher. Instinctively sliding in, he was the first to react to Robbie Henshaw’s aerial win when Jonathan Sexton chipped the ball to the try-line on a penalty advantage.

His 32nd Test try was a familiar finish, out-pacing Darcy Graham when Peter O’Mahony invited him to head for the corner.

Just two months on from his 33rd birthday, Earls still has a few seasons to add to his tally. Although his position in the Irish rugby pantheon will be tough to better. As ever, Brian O’Driscoll’s try-scoring feats is what must be beaten. His cushion as record holder is down to a mere 14 tries thanks to Earls’ exploits against Scotland.

Earls holds the same lead over Jacob Stockdale, the next highest-scoring active player.

“Good to get over the line,” said the Limerick man of his two-try haul post-match. Typically, he then instantly shifted focus to the collective effort of the team.

“It wasn’t the perfect performance, but we grinded it out. Sometimes that’s what good teams do.”

Injury forced Earls to wait before slotting into Andy Farrell’s post-lockdown side, a team that shifted its ethos in the long wait between Six Nations rounds three and four. 

With four Autumn Cup Nations appearances behind him he is confident the team is headed in the right direction, particularly after they were able to right the ship during a hard-fought first half against Scotland.

“We had a couple of fix-ups, fell off a few tackles. We didn’t go hunting them down, we let them run at us and get momentum. That’s exactly what Scotland love is momentum and playing wide-wide.

“We pulled our finger out thankfully.”

“We know where we’re at. We’re still only six or seven games into a whole new style of rugby. We’re confident that we’re building.”
Close
10 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Irin Flynn
    Favourite Irin Flynn
    Report
    Feb 17th 2016, 5:37 PM

    Gleeson would want to cop on.Great player with savage skill but he is after getting quiet a few red cards in the last few years.

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fear Uisce
    Favourite Fear Uisce
    Report
    Feb 17th 2016, 6:56 PM

    LIT should really be called CLIT with all the care lads on the team

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fear Uisce
    Favourite Fear Uisce
    Report
    Feb 17th 2016, 6:57 PM

    *clare

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O'Donohoe
    Favourite Paul O'Donohoe
    Report
    Feb 17th 2016, 7:42 PM

    Yeah, not sure if “CLIT” would actually be a great name to be honest..

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidan O connor
    Favourite Aidan O connor
    Report
    Feb 17th 2016, 7:33 PM

    To many Clare players on L.I.T
    Team . It’s Limerick college not Clare college Davey

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute pjm
    Favourite pjm
    Report
    Feb 17th 2016, 7:47 PM

    Are you for real? I suppose Brian Lohan shouldn’t be the UL manager either, oh wait half of UL is in Clare shor.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Corry
    Favourite Shane Corry
    Report
    Feb 17th 2016, 8:14 PM

    Just because Davy is over them you’re instantly shutting them down!

    10
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Cassidy
    Favourite Declan Cassidy
    Report
    Feb 17th 2016, 11:39 PM

    Its a stones throw from the Clare border so it’s obviously going to have a high number of Clare students attending.

    9
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel