Updated at 19.23
KEITH EARLS IS understandably in buoyant mood foll0wing Ireland’s excellent recent Rugby World Cup run.
The Irish star is recovering from a tough and extremely intense encounter with France last weekend.
“The body is good. I didn’t train today. The coaches are just watching my load, my running metres and stuff. I have started all the games and done every training session so I sat down and watched. I had a bit of a break and let my body recover from the most physical game I have played in my life.”
Earls has been one of Ireland’s most impressive performers in the competition and has become the team’s record World Cup try scorer in the process. However, he insists that team performances are more important than individual achievements, and says he won’t let the hype affect him.
“I refuse to let my family tell me what people are saying about me back home, whether it’s good or bad,” he says.
“I just have to live within my own head and I’m happy doing that.”
Earls has struggled in the past with injuries and admits he is very grateful to simply be playing again.
“It was a massive goal for me just to get back and play week by week,” he says. “Then I had a goal of playing in the World Cup and it worked out perfectly for me. Getting into the 30-man squad, then the 23 and then the starting XV. I’m delighted. It’s important now that I do know my body and the coaches know my body and I got a bit of a rest.”
“I’m happy at the moment. Hopefully there is plenty more to come.”
One person who won’t be playing alongside Earls is Paul O’Connell, who had roomed with his Munster teammate before a bad injury put a premature end to his Rugby World Cup.
“It’s devastating. I was actually next to him when it happened on the pitch and I knew by the sounds of him that it wasn’t good. He has been massive. I know people have been saying plenty about him, but genuinely words can’t describe what he has done for the country, for me. He is a massive loss.”
Yet despite acknowledging the gravity of O’Connell’s loss, Earls played down suggestions that it has brought the Irish team closer together.
“The motivation will stay the same. We knew even before we came over here that we might lose one or two players to injury. It happens at every World Cup.
“The main thing is to stay focused as an individual on yourself and then do what you can. What’s best for the team is to look forward no matter who we might lose on the way.”
And as for his recently formed centre partnership with Robbie Henshaw?
“It’s been great. I’ve played with Robbie twice now and we’re starting to learn and get to know each other.
“The first time when you play it can be tough enough to find out what he likes and stuff and I think at the weekend we showed a small bit of what kind of partnership we could have.”
That’s the shot Keith, whatever works for ya !!
I hope Munster plays him at 13 after the WC. The more experience he gains there the better.
Spot on Gary. If he plays consistently at 13 with Munster I think Ireland have found the best option at outside centre since BOD.
“buoyant mood foll0wing” – I love the 42 lads but someone needs to buy you a spellchecker!
Absolute legend
I fear for us though without the Oooooooo boys
Big big big loss
Is it a coincidence that any one recently with an O in their surname has been a complete player and thorough leader for Ireland
Earls your a star especially on the wing
I thought he played really well as a 13 on Sunday.
I think he did the old BOD trick of 4 on 2 isn’t an overlap, just an opportunity to tackle the opposition into touch.
Here’s hoping he keeps playing well and injury free.
Don’t want to be accused of having a vendetta against the lad or anything and he’s had a good world cup, but I seriously don’t see him as our long term solution at 13. Good winger and performs very well against weaker teams but after this world cup I think we need to look to someone from the next generation. I’m praying that Henshaw and Ringrose can form a partnership that could rival Drico and Darce
So France is a weaker team now? Earls is just coming into his prime now as a rugby player.
I personally thought that his performance against the French was below par. Even excluding the obvious dropped ball which was criminal he had other handling errors and offered very little threat in attack. Granted he put in a few good tackles and was solid defensively but that should be expected of any professional rugby player.
I think you’re being unfair Niall. Just because he didn’t score against France doesn’t mean he didn’t offer anything in attack.
I’ll be the first to admit, that Earls hasn’t really delivered internationally in the past, the same way he did for Munster, but I think he’s more than stepped up to the mark this time around, he’s a bit more mature, and he’s done the hard work, he does have a significant number of caps.
I think that its a case of people have gotten into the habit of blaming him. He’s not Brian O’Driscoll, and won’t ever be. But neither will anyone else, he was a phenom.
Statistically, Earls was very strong on Sunday. He was the reason Henshaw was able to make the linebreak off the back of the scrum that ultimately led the Kearney’s try. He caused Fofana to drift out, which opened the space for Robbie to go through. Centre’s don’t score as often as wingers, so he’s not going to be on the scoresheet as regularly.
As for handling errors, he had one. Bastareaud had two. To compare them further, Earls made 33 metres for 5 carries, Bastareaud made 2 for 1 carry. He made 9 tackles to Bastareaud’s 10, when you consider that Ireland had 70% possession, he completely outclassed the opposition 13.
He more than anyone else will know that he shouldn’t have fumbled the pass from Bowe, but ultimately, it wasn’t something that decided the game, and better it happened in a game where we ended up with more than enough of a gap that it didn’t matter.
You can be sure, its something he’ll be aware of the next time that sort of a situation arises.
Can somebody explain how our record world cup try scorer and somebody who’s scored 16tries in 45 tests since 2008 can be considered to have not performed for Ireland previously? please point to evidence rather than conjecture.. having said that, it was a dreadful mistake bu t one we got away with. The Leinster contingent need to get off his and zebos case. Probably hurts that they don’t have any backs in their class anymore.. Ringrose and Byrne will be but not yet
The game plan has to be commended because is it worked to Earls strengths of running possession and in the second half footwork before going into contact. That and the fact Henshaw did a job on Basta.