Chancing his arm.

Rob Kearney has been around for a long time. He’s gone on Lions tours, won multiple Heineken Cups, and tasted Six Nations glory on a number of occasions, including a Grand Slam in 2009.

Injuries however, have hampered the fullback in recent seasons, and at 31-years-old, he’s looking over his shoulder now more than ever. Especially now that Leinster sensation Jordan Larmour is now on the scene.

The talented young star recently kept Kearney on the bench in the Champions Cup, but can he do it at international level? Kearney was asked about the prodigy at yesterday’s Ireland press conference, and his response was brilliant.

“I just think he’s a flat-out winger…. if only,” Kearney said with a smile.

“I suppose throughout my whole career I’ve always been in some pretty heavy battles with a lot of No 15s. I could list them: Felix (Jones), Lukey (Fitzgerald), Geordan Murphy, Girvan (Dempsey) and then Zeebs (Simon Zebo) over the last few years.

“There’s always been a lot of really good players vying for the jersey.

“I’ve been as impressed as anyone else at some of the stuff he’s done over the last couple of months and it’s a good reward for him to be called into the Six Nations squad.”

Will Kearney retain his fifteen jersey this year? Only time will tell.