“The only positive I can take from it is that I’ve dealt with enough of them over the last two years and I’ve still been able to hold onto the national jersey and provincial jersey when fit.”
We had been told not to focus too much on Rob Kearney’s hamstring injury, when we spoke with him in September, but it was hard not to cover that ground.
You get the sense that Kearney is tremendously pissed off having to answer questions on his injury when he and a number of medical experts are struggling for answers themselves. The Leinster fullback is someone who thrives on getting a run of games together but that has been virtually impossible over the last two seasons.
Still, as Kearney notes himself, when fit he is the man Leo Cullen and Joe Schmidt select to wear No.15.
No one player divides opinion like Kearney appears to, in recent years at least. Some claim he has been on the wane for the past few seasons while others see him as a reliable option at fullback and a player capable of upping his game when the occasion demands.
With Simon Zebo out of the loop, it seems certain that Kearney will be starting fullback against South Africa. Should Schmidt go with what he knows, expect Kearney’s name to feature prominently in bar-room discussions and on social media.
In some quarters, selecting the 79-times internationally capped, proven winner Kearney is seen as Schmidt’s Leinster bias seeping through into the national team. Of going with the safe bet when there are more exciting prospects ready to step up. Of ignoring missed tackles and fewer line breaks as he plays into Ireland’s tactics of often playing territory over possession.
Just over a year on from his strong showing against the All Blacks, Kearney is on trial again.
“My perception that I can still do it is very strong in my own head,” he told us.
“Maybe amongst some elements of the media and some supporters, they may question it. But in my own head, I knew I was more than capable of doing it [against New Zealand]. It was just nice to be able to showcase it on the big stage.”
“[Getting written off] is frustrating but it’s the culture that we’re in,” Kearney adds. “If you’ve got a player that’s been around a long time, I think people can sometimes… not get little sick of it but they want to see the new faces and a bit of youth coming through.
“When you hit the other side of 30, you’re probably seen as a player on his way out, as opposed to coming up through the ranks. You get away with it in your early 20s as people are calling on you to get in. I was on the good side of it 10 years back so I suppose I’m on the other side of it now too.”
The worry for Irish fans – and this one is genuine – is Kearney coming into a huge game against South Africa cold. He will not have played since mid September but the positive here is the fact that he came through three intense training days with Ireland at Carton House, last week.
We would have liked to see Tiernan O’Halloran involved but he seems to have left Schmidt unconvinced even after a decent summer tour.
It would be risky for Schmidt to go in against the Boks with a back three of Earls, Stockdale and either Joey Carbery or Andrew Conway. Kearney is the safe bet but he goes into another crucial run of games having, in the minds of some, to prove himself all over again.
The only mind that matters on Saturday evening is Kearneys and he is confident that he is Ireland’s best 15. Let’s hope he is right.
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