Kearney can see Earls in wing mirror

IT SEEMS like only yesterday that Rob Kearney was being hailed as the most exciting young back in Irish rugby.

On Sunday, he is likely to face the latest claimant to that crown, when Leinster and Munster do their thing at the RDS.

At 22 years of age, Kearney is no veteran but it is three years since he made such a stunning breakthrough to the senior game. His Munster counterpart, Keith Earls, has matched that trick this year by claiming four tries in his first two senior starts.