Hugo Keenan writing new twists in his Ireland story

Keenan has become accustomed to unexpected twists in his story. If he imagined himself scoring for his country at Lansdowne Road as a kid then it was for the Republic of Ireland and the ball was round

BLISTERING START: Ireland’s two-try hero Hugo Keenan hopes he is doing enough and taking his opportunities to keep playing, whether it’s at 11, 14, or 15. Picture: Ramsey Cardy

For Hugo Keenan and the three others who made Ireland debuts against Italy last weekend, theirs was a strange kind of glory. No scanning of the crowd for their nearest and dearest as they stood for the anthems. No bear hugs with family members pitchside after the final whistle. No release into the Dublin night in celebration.

When all was done and dusted at the Aviva, Andy Farrell's squad and support staff made the journey a few clicks down the road to the Shelbourne Hotel where the quartet of rookies were treated to a low-key capping ceremony and subjected to the usual initiation mortification. Keenan chose 'Unwritten' by Natasha Beddingfield.