‘We’re not a bad team overnight’: Keith Earls hits back at Ireland’s critics

Keith Earls took his turn in front of the media and made two declarations — one a whole lot more difficult than the other, but both of huge benefit to the Ireland cause ahead of this Saturday’s Murrayfield showdown with Scotland.

The 31-year-old wing first announced he would be fit to face to the Scots, having lasted just 40 minutes of Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations opening-day defeat at home to England due to a hip-pointer injury. The second and possibly more painful point he had to make was that he was taking the blame for England’s opening try that set the tone for a miserable afternoon in Dublin just 90 seconds into the contest.