The Munster man is a willing warrior but he should be left where he is.
Keith Earls is in the type of form, this season, that would normally get a player selected for a Lions Tour. Truth be told, Earls was ripping it up last season too but was extremely unfortunate to miss out on Lions selection.
The Limerick native ended up taking out his frustrations on the USA and Japan before launching into a delayed pre-season with Munster. Injury saw him miss out on the November internationals but Munster were delighted to welcome him back as they reached the Champions Cup quarter finals.
Most of Earls’ best work has been done on the right wing and that is from where he blazed in his ninth try in 12 Ireland games, against Italy. A second half injury to Robbie Henshaw saw Earls switch to outside centre for the final 35 minutes of that victory, and do well too.
However, former Munster and Ireland centre James Downey believes Earls should not be asked to reprise the role against Wales on February 24. The topic, brought up on The Hard Yards [from 9:20 below], invoked a passionate response from Downey.
Earls has played 18 times at outside centre for Ireland but Downey, his former teammate at Munster, would much prefer to station him on the right wing.
Downey said:
“No, you can’t put Earls in the centre.
“For one, it’s a kick in the nether regions for someone, who’d be thinking, ‘He hasn’t played centre all year. We’re looking at him predominantly as a winger, so why are we bringing him into midfield if I play midfield?’ It’s not going to work.
“It was a great stop-gap at the weekend but no. It’s too tough a position as well, to play 13. It’s the hardest place to defend, there are different lines.
“Fair play to Keith, he knew what he was doing and we are lucky to have that extra option out there, but no. Chris Farrell is playing quite well, so I’d give him a go.”
While switching Earls to 13 was an option mulled over by Joe Schmidt, then Bundee Aki, his Munster teammate Chris Farrell is the frontrunner to step into the No.13 role.
Farrell was good, on debut, against Fiji and better against Argentina. He was injured in that game and returned to the Munster line-up in January, scoring a nice try in the away loss to Racing 92.
The best player on the park that day, at the U Arena, was Earls. Another stormer on the wings.
The man is versatile and up for whatever challenge thrown his way but enough of the messing. Keep Earls where he does the most damage.
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