Earls happy taking middle ground

Contrary to popular belief, Keith Earls insists he is neither a temperamental baby throwing his toys out of the pram nor a cranky old character mired in his own inflexibility.

Earls admits he has give plenty of ammunition to those willing to believe he can operate at both ends of the grouchy spectrum but like his favourite position on a rugby pitch, the truth lies firmly in the middle.

So long has the debate been raging about Earls’ best position in both the Munster and Ireland back lines that it is worth reminding ourselves that the Moyross flyer only turned 25 last month.

Today, against South Africa, he will earn his 33rd Test cap for his country and eighth start at outside centre.

The bulk of his appearances have come on the right wing and there have also been starts at full-back, where he made his try-scoring Ireland debut four years ago against Canada, and even inside centre, a less celebrated occasion this summer in the first Test against the All Blacks. No surprise then, that the Earls biography on the IRFU website lists his position as “universal back”.

Yet, in between, Earls has not exactly done much to disabuse people of the notion that the number 13 jersey is the only one for him. This summer, home from that arduous and demoralising tour to New Zealand and with former All Black centre Casey Laulala arriving at Munster in tandem with Irish midfielder James Downey, Earls reminded all and sundry yet again that 13 was his magic number with statements that gave the appearance of an ultimatum to incoming head coach Rob Penney. Penney so far appears to have accommodated all three of his most prominent centres so far this season and Earls this week insisted he is a happy camper, enjoying the new coaching regime at his home province and is far from being the inflexible curmudgeon he has at times come across as.

“What happened in the summer happened. I probably got frustrated at the result in New Zealand and it kind of came across wrong,” Earls said of his comments. “It was different to what I wanted to sound like.

“Obviously, I prefer to play 13 but I am happy to play anywhere. I didn’t want to set it in stone and throw my toys out of the pram that I only want to play 13.

So no ultimatums? “Not at all, it was frustration. The key thing now is to keep myself fit, healthy and playing wherever I’m picked. That’s where I prefer to play, but I enjoy full-back as well. I’m not going to set myself in stone.

“I don’t want people thinking I’m a grumpy old fella who will only play 13, when I play for my country I’ll play anywhere and do what is best for the squad.”

When Earls runs out at the Aviva Stadium tonight to face the Springboks it will be his first competitive game in four weeks, a groin injury having forced him out of Munster’s two Heineken Cup matches with Racing Metro and Edinburgh last month. The lay-off brought to an end an enjoyable run in the Munster 13 jersey, partnering both Laulala and Downey in midfield and Earls is equally enjoying both the new gameplan brought in by Penney and new backs coach Simon Mannix.

“I kind of panicked a small bit during the summer and maybe that’s why I spoke about it so much.

“We signed two world-class centres during the summer, but after speaking to Rob, he said to me that the lads aren’t always going to be fit, while if they are, I might have to slide on to the wing sometimes.

“I hit the panic button because of what happened during the summer, but having had time under his gameplan I have really enjoyed playing No13 and have been enjoying rugby in general which is what I should be focused on.”

It is suggested that Earls might also consider himself a world-class player and tonight’s game, when he will be joined in midfield by Gordon D’Arcy, is the perfect time to prove it.

“Yeah, I think it shows great respect the coaches have for me that they will pick me on the wing, in the centre or in full-back,” he replied. “I should see it as a confidence booster, rather than getting grumpy about where I’m playing. I’m delighted to be playing for Ireland every time. I will be playing against one of the best centres in the world in Jean (de Villiers), while the young lad (Jaco) Taute is a real physical battle for myself, D’Arce and Jonny (Sexton).”

This is Earls’s chance, not least to prove he is Ireland’s outside centre in waiting when Brian O’Driscoll finally calls it quits on the Test scene and maybe bring something different to the table in the process.

“What Brian does is what he does. He is the all round centre. If you want to be a perfect centre, you are probably going to pick Brian. He’ll probably miss it himself. He is around a long time. His pace is, I wouldn’t say gone, because he’s still a quick fella. Maybe it’s there over 20 yards, maybe not over 50 yards — we’ve often had the craic about that at training — but I’d like to think my opposition would worry about my pace. Brian is a great decision maker and he runs unbelievable lines. He’s nice soft hands, which I’ve been working on a good bit. I’ve been happy with it. I’m trying to become the Brian O’Driscoll, the all-round player.”