Vaunted Australian backline holds no fear for Earls

FROM dealing with American speedster Takudzwa Ngwenya to lining up against Australia’s all star backline, Keith Earls is certainly getting his hands dirty in his debut World Cup.

But the Munster flyer believes Ireland’s backline is a match for anyone.

Earls did enough with ball in hand against the United States last Sunday in New Plymouth to keep his place on the left wing for Saturday’s showdown with Pool C favourites and Tri Nations champions Australia at Eden Park, keeping Andrew Trimble on the bench for the second week in a row to form a back-three partnership with incoming full-back Rob Kearney and right wing Tommy Bowe.

And having seen off the “electric” Biarritz winger Ngwenya last weekend, Earls is relishing the challenge of meeting fire with fire as Ireland’s backline goes toe to toe with a Wallabies line that includes Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O’Connor and the star half-back duo of Will Genia and Quade Cooper.

“They have a good backline but I think we’re just as good if not better,” Earls said. “I think there’s this negative thinking that they’re Australian and they’re better than us. But we can be just as good as anyone and I wouldn’t have any problem with our backline going up against their backline.”

Earls is also confident that Ireland’s defensive strengths can hold up against the Australians.

“When I’m defending I prefer to defend a bigger fella than someone with footwork but we’ve a lot of guys in our backline with great footwork so we can probably expect a lot of breaks They have a few key players that if you shut them down their whole backline can be shut down as well.”