KEITH EARLS has played just 35 minutes, out of position, over Ireland’s two Six Nations outings. Yet that is not why he feels like he is shouldering a reduced and less onerous workload.
Even the small handful of times the word ‘fun’ has popped up in conversation with Ireland players over the past fortnight has been enough to raise eyebrows. For the simple reason that it’s new.
Joe Schmidt was famous for his ‘attention to detail’, a quality well worth having in a coach, but not one that easily goes hand-in-hand with fun, craic or freedom of expression.
We couldn’t have been sure that Andy Farrell’s straightforward and aggressive approach to setting a defensive stall would lend itself to a squad full of smiling faces either, but – at least after two wins – players are revelling in a little new-found freedom.
“It’s been a lot more chilled,” said Keith Earls after training in Cork on Thursday.
“We’re barely in the classroom as well. We see our classroom as being on the field. Faz brings down a TV to the side of the field at the HPC (high performance centre) and we’ll look at a play and then we’ll go out and rep it. It’s just coaches are different.”
Doctors differ, patients die. A strict man at the top hardly spelled disaster for Ireland as they won three Six Nations from 2014 to 2019, but times do change and a player’s mileage will vary on how they respond to a single approach.
Earls is around the game long enough to have seen another team go through the transition. He was a part of the Munster side who won the Heineken Cup in 2008, the last year of dominance from a hardy and grizzled outfit.
Such strong characters are impossible to simply replace or rehash. Teams must evolve rather than emulate.
“There were times when we scared to laugh. If you were laughing you weren’t switched on or you weren’t concentrating or you weren’t being professional,” the Limerick man says of the Munster old school.
The line of comparison being drawn to Ireland by his inquisitors is clear. And there is a stark difference to how Earls describes the build-up to the win over Wales and how Rory Best remembers the lead-up to the World Cup quarter-final.
“The morning of the New Zealand game, whatever happened, the coaches wanted a huddle and to go over some plays. I think there was a little worry at that stage that we hadn’t emphasised something enough,” the former captain said in December.
There was a similar story before the trouncing against England in August. Ben Youngs’ danger was talked up, to no constructive end.
Fast forward back to 2020 and Earls notes:
“Last week before the game, we did the Captain’s Run, then we didn’t meet again until we were getting on the bus going to the game.
“Usually you’d have a couple of meetings beforehand and you might have a meeting at 10 in the morning and the anxiety starts coming in from there.
“Whereas it’s completely chilled. We are trying to enjoy ourselves, but once you walk out in the four lines you have to be switched on. It’s being able to switch on for the hour or so rather than wasting energy all morning or two days or a day out, wasting energy on thinking about plays or stuff like that.”
He adds: “Andy backs our qualities as well to be able to deliver what he shows us.
“Look, it’s a new philosophy and it’s completely different from the way we’ve been playing and it’s great. We’re only two games into it and we’re two from two.”
Struggling with what Andrew Conway described as ‘a grumpy knee’ in the build-up to the Championship, Earls made sure to deliver a brilliant blend of fun and fire when he was called off the bench early in the second half against Wales. Robbie Henshaw failed his HIA and left Earls in the centre as the match entered the melting pot.
It was like turning back the clock in a way, Earls having been earmarked as a potential replacement for Brian O’Driscoll at 13 way back when. The shadow cast by the record try-scorer has faded though, and Earls certainly appeared to enjoy linking with Jordan Larmour, landing notable passes to the fullback both in the Welsh 22 and on halfway.
The Munster star points to his coaches to pass on credit when he is commended for his passing, Mike Catt, Steven Larkham and Joe Schmidt.
“Under Joe, he had us wingers trying to pass quite a bit. Stephen Larkham is huge on it as well, about getting quick hands and passing under pressure. Catty’s massive on it as well, so it’s something that we’ve been doing the last couple of years and months, but particularly the last couple of weeks under Stephen and Catty.”
“I think in the last couple of years I’ve tried to be well rounded in my game, especially if you’re trying to cover 13 – passing is massive. Defending is massive.
I suppose it’s about trying to be the best rugby player you can be, but not lose sight of what you’re very good at as well. So, there’s a balance.”
A balance Earls will strike if he can keep that temperamental knee relatively happy.
“I won’t say it’s an ideal situation but a 30-minute cameo every now and then is probably a good way to ease back into it, but yeah they’re feeling 100% now.
“It was my first run out in a while and it was good to get one back over Wales and in the manner we did as well.
“We played some exciting rugby but what’s brilliant is there’s plenty more to come.”
Maintaining excitement and fun will be all the easier if they can sustain their current form too.
Probably a smart decision to move Larmour into 14 and let him build a bit of confidence after his last few poor outings at fullback. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out from an Irish rugby point of view over this season and whether Leinster will keep him on the wing or move him into fullback. You’d have to say at the moment between him and Keenan that Hugo looks more like the international. I’d like to see him involved in the upcoming Irish camps in some capacity.
Would you like some sauce to go with that chip on your shoulder?
@Rudiger McMonihan: larmour is the new target from the munster fans. They always need one.
@Rudiger McMonihan: you’d need a put a bucket on his shoulder for the amount of sauce he’d need !!
@Chris Mc: his own team hasn’t won a trophy in a decade and he’s on here pontificating about poor full back play.
@Jim Demps: cmon now, already spoiling the comments section, Larmour is the future.
@Jim Demps: Ah now Jim. You should know better than to criticise any of the Leinster lads. Everyone knows they are by far the best team in the world.
@Decko49: its pi$$ed me off seeing stockdales defence criticised when he had to tackle the most agile winger in the world with a 4 on 1 overlap. It’s not just about leinster. I hate all this begrudgery going on. We’ll never move past our conservative dull tactics if every mistake causes the trolls to come out and attack players. Journalists and pundits are just as bad at it. They know they have to say something and they know a lot of fans love to hear them moan, so they take the easy route and pile on players who are actually playing well overall but may have made one or two mistakes. In Larmours case the only questionable performance was the 1st game which was after 5 months off and most of his missed catches were due to his team mates blocking him from actually getting to it.
@Rudiger McMonihan: My comment was tongue in cheek to be honest. Sorry about that. I don’t entirely agree with your view. I do think he’s a great player but I agree with jim he’s low in confidence.
Fullback is a thankless job usually a missed tackle from a fullback is the result of someone else’s missed tackle leading to a 2 on 1. Sure, it looks bad in the fullback wjen it happens but realistically it’s not entirely their fault. High ball can be worked on as well
@Chris Mc: you are no one to talk, all over munster articles yesterday giving out about a selection that hasn’t even happened
@Dave O Keeffe: but Dave I don’t think any one munster player is over rated, I think about 10 of them are.
Very smart selection. Switching keenan and larmour firstly was an obvious one.
Putting Frawley into midfield should bring a bit of creativity.
Gibson-Park, the best 9 leinstet have being selected to start.
Then Ruddock coming into a pack that lacked power.
Good management it has to be said.
That’s a really good side. Love frawley and sexton at 10/12. These 2 with any sort of decent ball from the pack will create all sorts of opportunities for Ringrose, Lowe larmour and keenan.
The sooner Irish rugby realises Conway is the best available full back we have the better for all concerned! Keep Lamour away from 15
@Kieran Dorgan: Conway doesn’t and hasn’t played fullback for munster. There’s a massive step up from playing in the pro 14 to international rugby then add a different position? If munster realise that 15 is his best position and play him there maybe he could step up.
@Chris Mc: I agree with you 100%. At the end of the day what do we know other than Rob Kearneys replacement hasn’t been found!
@Chris Mc: Its too late to say it now, but when zebo left comway should have been moved to fullback straight away.
There was no need to bring in haley, who at best is a solid player.
@Kieran Dorgan: you will be disappointed I feel. Larmour is fantastic.
@Kieran Dorgan: this is a Leinster 15, not a Irish or Munster 15. Leo picks his squad in a leinster mindset, rotation, blooding new players and mix/match guys. Your point is??
The Irish 15 jersey is wide open now. Daly Conway Keenan Larmour Lowry?
@Jamie Bent: Stockdale, will get it.
@Gareth Ward: Ye Stockdale is massively out of form and that seems to be what Farrell goes for.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Haha well there’s no in form 15 lad. So with a good number of wingers moving one who can play 15 to fullback makes sense. So i would edge stockdale in ahead of larmour. Larmour who is no better or worse form than stockdale
That is some squad. It will be good to have another look at Frawley playing 12. Great to see Ruddock back. That bench has incredible ball carrying capability. Looking forward to this.
Some selection. The Dragons will be on the sore end of a beating I think. Leinster by 15+.
I think it’s the right decision to move Larmour to the wing for now until he gains more confidence under the high ball. Future should still definitely be at full back though in my opinion
Larmour hasn’t been good at full recently, think he will be super on the wing,speed and sidestep, looking forward to seeing him.
I wonder how Harry Byrne would go at fullback. Looks to have all the attributes to do a great job there.