If you see Rob Kearney in a post-match mixed zone it usually means one thing – Ireland have lost.
The fullback is often sent out to lend a sombre pathos to affairs if his country has fallen short. He has that way about him – his words and measure and he certainly sounds gutted.
So it was on Saturday as 40-odd English journalists milled around man-of-the-match Billy Vunipola. Kearney arrived in a dinner suit with a bruised cheek and a glaze to his eyes.
He had put in a decent shift but was part of an Ireland team that fell short for the fourth game in succession.
Here are Kearney’s thoughts on Ireland’s 21-10 loss, the form of debutants Stuart McCloskey, Josh van der Flier and Ultan Dillane, and, firstly, how Conor Murray was looking after a kick to the head from Mike Brown.
On Murray
“I didn’t actually get a proper look at it, but he’s in there [the dressing room] in decent enough form. He got a couple of stitches probably but I haven’t had a good look at it yet.
“I didn’t see the event properly, it’s a big part of the English game, that they try to come through and kick the ball out of the ruck.
“If the player’s still holding onto it effectively the rule is you can kick it, so we’ll have to look at it and maybe we need to be better at our breakdown.”
On that try-scoring problem
“I don’t think it’s a problem, we just need to start taking them.
“The margins are so small, it was only a couple of centimetres away from that ball in the corner, and on another day Josh’s would have been given.
“It has been better over the last couple of weeks for getting into the 22 and getting a few more chances, we probably just needed a little bit more ball today.”
On the new boys
“The debutants did very well. They were fresh, hugely excited and everyone else was delighted they got the opportunity they deserved.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t make it a more special day for them and we just need to move forward now.”
