Earls: Tour has made me stronger

THE youngest of the British and Irish Lions class of 2009 will be home in Limerick today – much richer for the experience of participating in the tour to South Africa.

That Keith Earls was disappointed, but not miffed, at failing to make the Test team on this happy Ian McGeechan-led tour speaks volumes for how far he has come in such a short space of time.

Anyone watching the opening game of the tour against the Royal XV might have feared for young Earls. By his own admission, he had a poor game, highlighted by three glaring errors.