Bullish Keith Earls fighting fit as Munster bid to keep Euro dream alive

The sense of dread around a hushed Thomond Park had been palpable as Keith Earls lay prone on the turf, surrounded by attentive medics.

The Munster centre had fallen head-long into Leinster scrum-half Eoin Reddan’s leg, felt a crack in his neck, thought immediately of his family watching in the stands and at home and sensibly decided not to move an inch further.

There followed many nervous minutes as the on-pitch treatment continued but it was Earls himself who changed the mood as he began to leave the field aboard a motorised stretcher trolley, his defiant raised fist prompting a huge and relieved cheer as a near sell-out crowd sensed that all would be well.