Keith Earls took his turn in front of the media and made two declarations — one a whole lot more difficult than the other, but both of huge benefit to the Ireland cause ahead of this Saturday’s Murrayfield showdown with Scotland.

It doesn’t seem so long since Simon Zebo was struggling for a first audition under Joe Schmidt, but the Munster man’s worth to the national cause continues to expand with the head coach giving him the nod to start again at full-back against England tomorrow.

Mike Brown is still suffering concussion symptoms and faces a race against time to prove his fitness for England’s pivotal RBS 6 Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin.

Number nine Conor Murray credited Ireland's front line for holding firm in what he described as a "bruising" encounter in the Aviva Stadium yesterday.

It all starts so well.