Veteran Ireland wing Keith Earls has actually revealed that he aspires to represent his nation at a 4th Rugby World Cup after winning his 100th cap in their 29-10 triumph over England on Saturday.
Earls began as a second-half replacement at the Aviva Stadium and commemorated his turning point with a well-taken shot because video game’s latter phases.
It was a fitting benefit for the 35-year-old who went a year without dipping into global level due to injury concerns.
Did not return for nostalgic factors
He made his Test return in Ireland’s win over Italy previously this month however is determined that he is not back simply for nostalgic factors as he is eager to be consisted of in the males from the Emerald Isle’s team for the worldwide masterpiece in France.
“That’s the reason I’m here, that’s the reason I came back for pre-season, that’s the reason I’m doing everything possible to stay fit,” he said.
“I have that burning desire to give myself the best chance of going to the World Cup and I tell you one thing I’d hate to be the coaches trying to pick their 33-man squad. It’s going to be tough.”
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell presently has 38 gamers in his team however is set to call his 33-man group for the World Cup after next weekend’s encounter versus Samoa in Bayonne.
Earls is a bashful character who confessed to feeling a little unpleasant in the spotlight on Saturday and revealed that he feared being left ashamed as an unused replacement after all the excitement in the build-approximately the video game versus England.
“I was saying to the lads, it was probably the worst week of my life with all the attention around the 100th cap,” he said.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done on Thursday trying to keep the tears out of my eyes around all of the lads.
“But I think I managed to do it, so that was grand.
“I’m delighted everything worked out perfectly and there’s not a better bunch of lads to do it with.
“It was hell sitting on the bench. It was nerve-wracking, thinking: ‘will he put me on? This will be very embarrassing after everything I’ve gone through’.”
Apart from getting video messages from the similarity Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll and previous coaches Declan Kidney and Joe Schmidt, Earls existed with his turning point cap by Farrell, while captain Johnny Sexton and forwards coach Paul O’Connell made speeches.
Mack Hansen’s homage
Meanwhile fellow speedster, Mack Hansen, shaved the initials KE and the number 100 into a captivating green hairstyle to admire Earls.
“He actually came in with just his hair dyed green and then he got this idea he wanted to cut a shamrock into the side of his head,” said Earls.
“That kind of went a bit pear-shaped and then he was like, ‘let’s get KE 100 into my head’.
“I was sitting in the team room and I was like, I want no part in this and walked away and then Craig (Casey) sent me a picture and what a horrendous job they had done on it.
“That man (Hansen), he’s such a unique character in rugby.
“When you can act like that and cut your hair like that and then go out and perform like that, you just have to leave him be.”
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The short article Ireland’s latest centurion Keith Earls eyes Rugby World Cup after ‘worst week of my life’ appeared initially on Planetrugby.com.
