‘Very complete’ Payne impresses Kearney

Jared Payne has spent the grand total of two days with Joe Schmidt’s Ireland set-up but the Ulster back has already made considerable inroads in the race to replace Brian O’Driscoll as the side’s resident 13.

The New Zealand-born Ulster player became naturalised earlier this year and attended his second team camp in Kildare on Sunday and Monday of this week and Rob Kearney, for one, has been impressed by the new boy’s abilities.

“He’s a really nice fella, very skilful,” said Kearney at the launch of Ireland’s new jersey with Canterbury who reclaim the kit after the IRFU’s five-year association with Puma.