IRELAND AND MUNSTER WINGER KEITH EARLS HAS ADMITTED that he is 'grateful' ahead of Ireland's game against England on Saturday. The Munster legend could win his 100th cap for his country if he features for Ireland in the mammoth clash. This comes after Earls won his 99th cap against Italy at the start of the month.
Farrell will name his side to face Steve Borthwick's team on Thursday, and Earls is sure to be in the lineup. Another cap will mean that Earls will become the ninth man to reach a century of Test appearances for the country.
Earls will turn 36 years old during the World Cup, and with his IRFU contract set to expire in November, his future in the game beyond 2023 is uncertain. However, the Munster star has claimed that he will enjoy every moment of the centurion cap on Saturday.
"Talking to Andy [Farrell] about if it does happen, he's telling me, 'It’s not just another cap, you can’t have a normal week because it’s not a normal week,"said Earls.
"Talking to Cian Healy and Johnny [Sexton], I know Cian Healy tried to drown it out and not speak about it, and it caught up with him before the game—all the emotion.
"I suppose in the last couple of years, I was genuinely thinking every time I stepped onto the field it could be the last time. So it’s great if it does happen at the weekend. I’d be extremely proud and privileged to join a unique group.
"I've said it before, I’ve enjoyed my journey since my 50th cap, the whole way to now with Ireland. I wish I was a bit more relaxed when I was younger about it, but if it happens, I will enjoy this one."
'I'm trying not to think about it!'
'It's not just another cap. You can't have a normal week because it's not a normal week'
Keith Earls was starting to doubt whether he'd reach 100 Irish caps, but is just trying to enjoy the journey now. | @ashoreilly@VodafoneIreland pic.twitter.com/VIjMbmXalQ— Off The Ball (@offtheball) August 16, 2023
After a number of injury troubles that kept him out of action for his province and country, Earls has also admitted that he felt his time with Ireland was over because of the wealth of talent in the country.
"To be honest with you, I'd given up coming home on the plane," he added. "I knew it was a bad one, and I got the scan and we got the results, and I was like, 'That's it, I’m not going to be able to get enough games under my belt for Andy to pick me to get into the squad.'
"I was just like, 'I’m going to fizzle out here.' Especially with the talent coming through and the way some of the lads are playing and my injury history last year."
Ireland's game against England begins at 5:30pm this Saturday.
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