KEITH Earls, or ‘Our Kid’ as he is affectionately known in the media circles, is currently preparing for his first World Cup with Ireland. The Munster winger has been in Carton House in Maynooth for a recent camp to prepare for the trip to the southern hemisphere.
There is no doubt that the Munster sensation will be on the plane to New Zealand, but the Limerickman is not counting his chickens. When asked if the warm up games are a chance to perform or a chance to play yourself off the plane, the Thomond flyer was in philosophical mood.
“To be honest, you want to play in all those games and play well. You want to give Declan a real headache in terms of selection so he cannot but pick you. I remember the warm up games for the Lions. It was the same. People were telling me to mind myself, but it’s when you go into a game half hearted, that is when you do get injured. If God doesn’t think you should go to the World Cup, he doesn’t think you should go. You have to give it all.”
The Munster star has been on the wing in recent times and looks most likely to feature there during the World Cup. However, many Munster fans feel that Earl’s best position is in the centre. A position the man himself would still like to play in.
“I wasn’t fit when I played in the centre for Munster last season. I only really got fit during the Six Nations, when Declan was playing me on the wing. So when I came back to Munster, Tony had seen me, fit, playing on the wing. So I think it was just because of my fitness. I could have been better for Munster at 13 if I was fit I think. But we will have to wait and see. I will try and get picked for New Zealand first. I think also Munster need to make one more signing in the backs. A centre is needed I think really. We have a lot of utility backs and lads are struggling to adapt sometimes. We will just to wait and see what Tony thinks once I come back from the World Cup”.
Once Earls returns from the World Cup some familiar faces will be missing from the Munster set up. Messieurs Hayes and Quinlan will be missed and not just by the fans.
“John was like my best mate in the squad. It is funny, but there is a huge age difference between us, but I get on well with John the most. We travel to Irish camp together and it was like having a big brother around. He was great for advice, Hopefully, I will get a few more months out of him, but it will be a sad say when he leaves. Quinny was a huge man for Munster. He was a hard worker. All his life was Munster. He is one of those fellas who believed in me and gave me loads of advice. I remember one time when we played Leinster in the RDS, in my first season. Quinny was talking to me the whole time. Telling me that I was as good as those lads from Leinster and I was not to be going into my shell. I grew up watching him play and he was a talented player. He played against my father a few times and sometimes I hated him, but I have nothing but respect for Quinny and he will be sadly missed”.
Having spent some time in Portugal, Keith has returned fitter than ever and is looking forward to the camps and the training that will prepare him and his Irish team mates ahead of the tournament.
“It is tough on the body. We have been training this week with the Irish lads, looking in at the Munster players. It is kind of hard to do that, but I suppose they would love to be where we are too I suppose. Ya the week was good. Preseason is always tough. It gives you a good chance to get your body conditioned for the tough season ahead.”
Ahead lies a tournament where Earls will once more be part of an exciting backline. Does the sense of anticipation act as a motivation or create pressure for the young man?
“It’s a motivation really. When you touch the ball you can hear the crowd roaring for you. They think highly of you. It is something we have tried to do with Munster this season, with the likes of Howlett and Felix in the back three, all we want to do is run the ball and score tries. We don’t want to play boring rugby. Our backs are scoring tries and that can only lead to exciting times”.
Exciting times indeed.
