Munster confirm the bad news we’d been expecting about Keith Earls

This is a real blow.

Keith Earls enjoyed an outstanding Six Nations campaign but it ended, rather poignantly, with the 30-year-old exiting Twickenham looking dejected. The winger, who started all five games for Joe Schmidt's Grand Slam winners, suffered knee ligament damage during the win over England and, from his forlorn expression as he left the pitch, you could tell he knew it wasn't good. Earls has been haunted by injuries in the past. His fitness troubles robbed him of the chance to be a part of Ireland's Six Nations triumphs in 2014 and 2015 and, while more than made up for those absences this year, it came at a price. Munster confirmed on Saturday morning that the Earls will be ruled out for six weeks, meaning he will miss the province's Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulon at Thomond Park next Saturday. Should Munster progress, Earls won't make it back in time for the semi-final. https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/977492722209710081 “With Munster’s Grand Slamming winning contingent of Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander, Conor Murray and the injured Keith Earls all returning to the province next week, the news on Earls is not as bad as first feared,” the province said.

“It has been confirmed that the winger, who sustained knee ligament damage in Twickenham last Saturday, will not be available for approximately six weeks, ruling him out of the Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulon on 31 March.”

Earls' injury adds to a growing list for Munster coach Johann van Graan, who is already without Andrew Conway (knee), Chris Cloete (arm), Jaco Taute (knee), Chris Farrell (knee) and Tyler Bleyendaal (neck).