Keith Earls backs 'voice of reason' Jared Payne to succeed at Munster

Earls is dipping his toe into coaching with AIL side Thomond

New Munster attack coach Jared Payne won 20 caps for Ireland before being forced to retire due to a head injury suffered on the 2017 Lions Tour. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Keith Earls saw Jared Payne as Ireland’s “voice of reason” when the pair were Test team-mates and he believes the former Ulster centre has all the tools to succeed as Munster’s new attack coach.

Payne has replaced Mike Prendergast on Clayton McMillan’s coaching staff and the New Zealand-born 2017 British & Irish Lions tourist has arrived after spells as either defence or attack coach at Ulster, Clermont Auvergne and most recently Scarlets, where he held both positions during his three years at the Welsh region.

The 40-year-old was forced to end his playing career after a head injury sustained on the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand, having played 20 times for Ireland before his enforced retirement.

Test centurion Earls, 38, remembered Payne as a calm leader on both sides of the ball who always seemed destined to become a coach.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner on Monday at Ballyneety Golf Club where he helped launch the Legends 4 Milford Golf Classic, a Ryder Cup-style golf fundraiser in aid of Milford Care Centre between Limerick hurling legends and an Earls-captained Munster rugby legends team set for August 21, the former Munster and Ireland wing said of Payne: “He played 13 and 15 for Ireland. He was always the defensive leader, attack leader. He was the voice of reason. He was a fairly calm player. He had a lot of knowledge back then and you always knew he was going to go into coaching.

“He's been around and he's well experienced. I wish him the best of luck in Munster.” 

Earls added: “It's a tough one because there was nothing wrong with their attack. Obviously, I'm a massive fan of Mike Prendergast. That was a tough one to see him go, for whatever reason but I'm excited because Jared would have been a defensive coach for a couple of teams. I haven't been keeping a serious eye on him but from what I know, Jared, he'll be fine.” 

Earls, who retired after Ireland’s 2023 World Cup campaign having earned his 101st Test cap, made 202 appearances for Munster, his final appearance for the province coming in the May 2023 URC grand final victory over Stormers.

While he always knew Payne would become a coach, the Limerick man has kept his distance from rugby since his retirement, concentrating on family life and his Eleven14 Coffee Roastery business but he is now beginning to dip a tentative toe into coaching with Energia AIL Division 2B South side Thomond.

“I'm doing a bit of coaching with Thomond this year, my local club. Just to see if it's something I want to do. They're a good bunch of lads up there, so I'll do a small bit with them.

“Not sure how good of a coach I am, but I just potter around up there and if they want to run something by me, I'm there. So a good crew up there.

“It's about giving back to the clubs as well in Munster. It's the only reason why, really because it's something we were built on and we need to get... Again, I don't know if I'm going to be a good coach, but I have plenty of experience.

“We need to get experience back into the clubs and try and get the clubs firing on cylinders again. So, look, it's something that was on my radar to maybe try and get the club game back, if you can. Especially Thomond, who haven't been senior for a couple of years now. They played senior last year and they're kicking on again this year, hopefully.”