Relaxed Keith Earls enjoying centre stage

Keith Earls is fine. Let’s just start there.

Reports he sat out Ireland training in Cardiff yesterday morning had sent ripples of concern through a following already on edge thanks to a burgeoning injury list and the suspension for Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against Argentina of Sean O’Brien.

“The body is good,” said a smiling Earls. “The coaches are just watching my load, my running metres and stuff. I’ve started all the games and done every training session so I sat down and watched. Had a bit of a break and let my body recover from the most physical game I played in my life.”