Crocked Kearney sees big picture on trip to Africa

IF Munster didn’t manage to do it with their last-minute Magners League smash-and-grab last weekend, Rob Kearney should be well able to give Leinster a lesson in humility as their biggest Heineken Cup challenge of the season looms at the Aviva Stadium today.

The injured Irish and Lions international full-back had to go through the physical pain barrier in his long battle to recover from a knee injury, but put his own troubles in perspective yesterday as he recounted details of a week-long visit to Ethiopia as a good-will ambassador for the overseas aid charity Concern.

Although the Heineken Cup quarter-final weekend provides a thrilling focus for Kearney on his path to recovery, he can’t help thinking about what he left behind in Africa.