'I've watched it back twice' - Hugo Keenan determined to learn from French lesson

While he's hoping it doesn't happen any time soon, Hugo Keenan says he's well prepared for the eventual day when Andy Farrell wants to have a look at another full-back.

The Leinster man's position in the Ireland team isn't under threat. Far from it.

Since making his debut against Italy in October 2020 he's started every single game. 18 caps, all 18 of them starts. Four of them on the wing, 14 of them at full-back.

Out of the last 1440 minutes of rugby Ireland have played, Keenan's been on the pitch for all but 51 of them.

With those numbers behind him, he's about as nailed on for a place in the team as you can possibly be. However, he knows even if he's not 'dropped' in the traditional sense of the word, the looming World Cup in 2023 means that his head coach may want to see how someone else fares in the 15 jersey over the coming months.

"Yeah, if he was to come to me and say something, I suppose you'd naturally still be disappointed," Keenan said at an event for Energia earlier this week.

"You always want to play, you always want to keep your hand in the team and be involved and keep playing for your country.

"There's always going to be competition, there's always going to be people knocking on the door and there is at the moment so listen, if that happens it is what it is.

"But I'm hoping to go again (against Italy). I'm feeling good, we're back into camp tomorrow and looking forward to it."

In a quirk of the Covid times we live in, Saturday's defeat to France was the 25-year-old's first Test experience in front of a packed away crowd, with his previous five away games being played behind closed doors.

And he says that gentle introduction to the pressures of playing away from home has been hugely beneficial.

"Eighteen caps in,