Keith Earls is one of the biggest gents in Irish rugby, but he could have some competition.
The Munster winger was a Lions bolter back in 2009 and has been one of the best strike-runners in Test rugby for the past decade. Through it all, he has remained true to his roots, focused on his game and respectful of the privileged position he occupies.
On Ireland’s recent tours to America and Japan, Ulster winger Jacob Stockdale was a newcomer to the squad and eager to soak up as much information as possible. Initially daunted by the enormity of it all, he recalled how Earls and Simon Zebo had been nothing but helpful to him and giving of their time.
Following Stockdale’s tryscoring Test debut, Earls rose even higher in his estimation. He told us:
“After the game, I was going to go swap my extra jersey with one of the USA players. As I was walking out of the changing rooms, Earlsy just said, ‘Here Jacob, don’t be swapping your first’.
“He gave me his other jersey, and let me swap it, and I was able to hang on to my two first cap jerseys, which was really, really dead on of him. I really appreciated it.”
On The Hard Yards podcast, Ronan O’Gara recalled an encounter with Leinster flanker Josh van der Flier [from 59:00 below] below that drew comparisons to Earls.
Former Ulster and Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris was raving about van der Flier – and tipping him for the Ireland back-row – when O’Gara interceded. He said:
“Josh was brilliant on the tour. He’s a guy that really thinks out the box and who has a different approach to learning. He’s interested in so many ways of bettering himself and from all his questions, and in so many discussions I had with him, I thought, ‘This lad is unbelievably interesting’.
“He’d remind you of someone like Keith Earls and how humble he was when he was first in and how he remained. Josh van der Flier reminds me of a young Keith Earls.”
When host Andy McGeady remarked, “Really? That’s high praise”, O’Gara replied, “I am capable of giving praise too Andy, I hope!”
Ferris does not need any further convincing about the 24-year-old. He said:
“Every time Josh plays, he impresses me. He doesn’t ever really seem to have a bad game. The coaches are always talking about him, talking him up, and he always seems to deliver when the pressure comes on and in the big games.
“I think he’s a starter [for Ireland] and he’s a better 7 than Sean O’Brien. Seanie has got to a stage of his career where he’s probably not as good over the ball as he used to be… Josh is such a talented player and, by all accounts, he is such a down-to-earth and level-leaded player. There’s no arrogance about him. That goes a long way, also.”
Nice guys don’t always go far in rugby but it is heartening to hear van der Flier and Earls – two genuine, humble men – have.
