Keith Earls better fix that dodgy alarm.
The sun was shining, Depeche Mode was playing and the coffee was warm.
Despite being winless after two Six Nations games, the Irish team were in good spirits this morning.
One of the more bizarre sights during Ireland’s training session, at Carton House, was Keith Earls standing out on his own with egg yolk dropping from his head.
He was summoned into an encircling of his Ireland teammates, whereupon he picked up an egg and deposited it on his bonce.
Apparently it was because the versatile Munster back had shown up late to a Pilates session.
Pilates? What would Moss Keane or Willie John McBride say to this?
Ireland scrum-half Eoin Reddan explained:
“He was a bold boy. He stepped out of line and [Strength & Conditioning coach] Jason Cowman just pulled him back in.
“It was probably some monitoring thing.
“It’s a bit of craic and it keeps people in line at the same time.”
The Irish squad will have a panel of players that decide on forfeits for teammmates’ transgressions. No-one is safe, apparently, as Paul O’Connell suffered a similar, eggy fate during last season’s Six Nations championship.
