KEITH EARLS PROVIDED Irish rugby with several reminders of his enduring quality yesterday at Thomond Park, as he blazed in for a wonderful try and generally showed his unique athletic ability.
Munster enjoyed a 65-10 victory over a poor Sale side, although there was some understandable concern around the fact that Earls was replaced with just 44 minutes of the game elapsed.
The outside centre’s momorable try came shortly before that exit, but head coach Anthony Foley pointed out that it had been an even greater achievement given the fact that Earls’ groins had been tightening up.
The 27-year-old only recently returned from a long-term patellar tendon injury, meaning his body is still growing re-accustomed to the demands of rugby.
It’s one of those things,” explained Foley. “You get a 15-minute half time and you’re doing everything to keep the lad warm, particularly his groins. He’s come back after a long period out and he was on the stationary bike trying to keep warm, cycling.
“He went out for the second half and felt his groins tighten up and to be honest our injury list is long enough, we didn’t want to add another one to it. Particularly Earlsie when he’s a character in and around the squad, so we want him in the squad as much as possible, not out of it.”
Earls is part of the 46-man Ireland group that convened at Carton House last night, meaning any fresh injury or re-injury would be extremely badly timed.
The Limerick man has yet to play for Ireland under Joe Schmidt, but Foley insisted that there was nothing major to worry about.
“It was precautionary,” said the Munster head coach. “We felt that if we kept him on any longer, he might be an injury doubt.”
Relief for Schmidt and his coaching team, but there is more doubt around the injury to Dave Foley that meant he did not return for the second half. The lock appeared to sustain a knock early in the game, receiving treatment at least twice, but carrying on until the break.
Head coach Foley indicated that the second row had picked up a wrist issue, although further detail could not be confirmed immediately after the game. Ireland’s medical team may be in place to deliver a more accurate assessment later today.
An update on Denis Hurley’s shoulder injury should arrive this week from the Munster camp, with the inside centre having lasted just over 20 minutes of the game against Sale yesterday.
However, an encouraging performance from replacement Ivan Dineen in midfield suggests Munster may have an ideal replacement should Hurley be ruled out for any upcoming Pro12 fixtures.
“He was excellent,” said Foley of Dineen. “That’s the best I’ve ever seen Ivan play. He came on, showed good physicality, showed lovely hands to put Andrew [Conway] through a hole and made a nice break himself. That’s as good as I’ve seen him play.”
