“Earls jogged alongside me and asked was I planning to retire at the end of the season...”

KEITH Earls has rugby pedigree. His father was an integral member of arguably the most aggressive and unquestionably the most feared pack of forwards in Irish club rugby history.

Ger Earls might not be as famous as his son but back in the early 90s, mention of his name, in connection with the Young Munster forwards, struck fear into his opponents. Young Munster were uncompromising. In the glory days of the All-Ireland League over 20,000 people would turn up to savour Limerick derbies between Young Munster and their local opponents. And at the core of this ferocious team was Ger Earls.

1993 was the crowning moment in Young Munster’s history. The unthinkable happened when St Mary’s, who were favourites to win the head-to-head with the Limerick hard men, were beaten. It was the Dublin side’s willingness to throw the ball about that was their undoing. A pass by Nick Barry was intercepted by the Young Munster openside wing forward, who sprinted nearly the length of the pitch to score the deciding try.

Nearly 17 years on, we see his jet-heeled son sprinting away from his opponents on a regular basis.

Keith Earls first came to my attention in 2006. The U19 World Cup was being played in Dubai and there was an exciting new talent in the Irish backline, at outside centre. Every time the young Limerick man had the ball in hand, there was a potential threat to the opposition. He was slight and not built like his gargantuan counterparts from the southern hemisphere, but he had an edge to his game. Like his father, he was a battler and threw himself wholeheartedly into every confrontation.

It wouldn’t be long before the young prospect would appear at Munster senior squad sessions.

Ger Earls also had his time playing for the province. He was part of the heroic Munster team who beat the Australian world champions in 1992 and was rewarded with selection for an Irish trial. Even though he scored two tries, one for the Possibles in the first half and a second for the Probables after the break, his efforts were to prove fruitless. A merited cap eluded him. Worse was to come. The advent of professionalism accelerated the end of his run with Munster.

When Keith Earls first appeared on the Munster scene his ambition was obvious. On one occasion, the two of us were going for a warm-up lap prior to training in Dooradoyle. I was the veteran and was approaching the end of my career. Keith had not yet started for the province but his potential was glaringly obvious. He was usually quiet and understated but we started chatting as we ran. He asked me if I was planning on retiring at the end of the season. I could only laugh. He was anxious to start his professional career and wanted to get the old fella out of the way. I reassured him that I only had six months to go on my contract and wouldn’t be going any further. His time would come.

I never had the pleasure of playing on the same team as Keith but I did play against him in a couple of club matches. We were direct opponents when Garryowen played Cork Constitution in the final of the AIL in 2008 in Musgrave Park. It was my last ever game of rugby and hoped that I could avoid being embarrassed by the younger man. I was fortunate. Whenever Keith got the ball, he had no option but to run directly into contact. He left his mark.

Keith’s sheer physical edge reminded me of the immense power I had encountered playing for UCC against Young Munster in the Cup back in 1993. The students were steam-rolled by the hardness of the Limerick team. Ger Earls was at the heart of this tough Young Munster side and his son Keith has inherited this strength.

Off the pitch, Keith Earls is a gentleman. He has a self-deprecating sense of humour and is always willing to make cracks, often at his own expense, to entertain the rest of the squad. His team mates hold him in high esteem and greatly value the contribution he has made to Munster. His ability to break the defensive line was sorely missed against Leinster.

There is a palpable sense of anticipation in Thomond Park whenever he touches the ball. He is a dangerous opponent and Munster need his game-breaking ability to open up Northampton this evening. And perhaps there will be one very satisfied father in the stands, proud that his son is reaching the heights he was denied.