Keith Earls savouring win in Paris as ‘proudest moment’ in green jersey

Keith Earls wouldn’t be stuck for cuttings if he ever had the idea of cataloguing his Ireland career in a scrapbook.

He scored a try on his debut against Canada, the dreamlike feel to it all embellished by the fact that he could have opted to take his shower and eat his post-match meal just a 20-minute walk down the road from Thomond Park in his home place of Moyross.

Another 62 caps have been bundled into his kitbag since. He has scored another 25 five-pointers in that decade or so, played in two World Cups and finished the 2011 tournament as his country’s top try scorer.