Keith Earls - Ireland

Ireland

Earls made his debut for Ireland in November 2008 against Canada in Thomond Park. He scored his first international try with his first touch of the ball.

Earls was selected in Ireland's squad for the November Tests in 2009. He came on for the injured Luke Fitzgerald against Australia and started against Fiji, where he scored two tries, and against South Africa. He played in all 5 of Ireland's 2010 Six Nations Championship games, starting 4 of them. He scored a try against England and scored two more against Wales, finishing as joint top try scorer with Tommy Bowe, Shane Williams and James Hook.

He was selected in Ireland's squad for their 2010 Summer Tour to New Zealand and Australia, though he had to pull out of the squad due to a persistent groin injury. An ankle injury ruled him out of the beginning of the 2010/11 season. He was in the Ireland squad for the 2010 Autumn Tests, coming on against South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina. He started every game for Ireland during the 2011 Six Nations Championship, four on the left-wing and one at full-back. He was selected in Ireland's squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-ups in August, playing in both tests against France. He was selected in Ireland's final 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand. He started on the wing against US Eagles in Ireland's first Pool C game, and again against Australia during their historic 6-15 victory over the Wallabies. He was switched to outside-centre against Russia and scored two tries. He returned to the left-wing for Ireland's final Pool C game against Italy and, on his birthday, scored a brace of tries in the 36-6 win. He scored his fifth World Cup try in Ireland's quarter-final defeat at the hands of Wales. This total of five tries made him Ireland's top try scorer at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Earls was selected in Ireland's 24-man squad for the 2012 Six Nations Championship. He was named in the team to face Wales in the opening fixture, but had to withdraw from the team when his recently-born daughter was taken ill. His place at outside centre was taken by Fergus McFadden. He returned to the Ireland team for their game against Italy, scoring a try, and played against France, Scotland and England.

He played at Inside Centre for Ireland in the first test against New Zealand on 9 June 2012, as part of a new centre-combination with Brian O'Driscoll. Earls missed the second test due to a pectoral injury, but returned to start the third test, this time on the left-wing. Earls started at 13 for Ireland in the opening 2012 Guinness Series test against South Africa on 10 November 2012, and again against Argentina on 24 November 2012.

Earls was named in Ireland squad for the 2013 Six Nations Championship on 17 January 2013, and came off the bench against Wales in Ireland's opening 22-30 win, and their 6-12 defeat against England on 10 February 2013. He came into the first XV against Scotland after Simon Zebo's injury, starting in his place on the left-wing. He continued there in the 13-13 draw against France. He started against Italy in the final game of the tournament, but went off injured in the 24th minute.