WATCH: Dave Kearney on recovery from injury: You 'hope you’ll get yourself back in the mix’

Dave Kearney is delighted to be starting on Sunday against Italy for what should be Ireland’s toughest test so far of the Rugby World Cup.

Having worked hard to recover from a cruciate ligament injury, he is even more appreciative of the starting jersey.

Video by Dan Linehan.

“It’s great, it has gone really quickly,” he said today when asked how it felt to be back. “I suppose when you’re injured and you’re not playing it goes really slow.”

The road back is made even more difficult if other players have shone in your absence, something Kearney understands particularly well given the fierce competition for places on the wing

“You’re looking at hoping that you’ll get yourself back in the mix,” he said. “I suppose you’ve got to just get yourself fit and get yourself a chance to perform, and perform consistently.”

Kearney also discussed the flexibility of being able to play on both wings, saying: “I think being able to play all positions in the back three definitely helps”.

Shaun Cronin, head sports reporter, breakingnews.ie speaking with Simon Lewis, golf and rugby correspondent with the Irish Examiner about Ireland’s clash with Italy in the RWC. Video by Dan Linehan