Hugo Keenan reveals injury return goals after 'pulling hair out' watching Ireland's defeat to Springboks

Whilst Keenan did not suffer the sideline-enforced break in the land down under, the back-three flyer had pre-planned to go under the knife upon his return back from the Lions tour. Keenan was a marquee man for Andy Farrell's side, with his stand-out moment in red being the decisive match-winning try to clinch the series in the Second Test in Melbourne.

"It's all going to plan, hopefully back in around January. Back doing a little bit of running, which is nice, so light at the end of the tunnel." Keenan said, as he donned his provincial Leinster blue for the Investec Champions Cup season launch event.

"Leinster have a big season. We're trying to get back on track in the URC and get ourselves in the best position for Europe. I'm hoping to be back involved pre-Six Nations for a few big games. When exactly, I don't know, I can't really say. It's still a bit to go, with a few variables in the rehab and everything naturally."

Despite not being due to return to the pitch until the new year, Keenan was welcomed into the Ireland camp to continue his recovery as the men in green finished up their Autumn Nations Series campaign.

"They brought me back in just to keep me involved, with the hopes and that I'll be back involved for the Six Nations. They're good, the coaches are, they're not just casting players aside when when they're injured. They try include you in, try and get you to rehab and do your fitness and training in the Irish camp, so that you can take on board what's been learned in camp, take on the lessons."

"I enjoyed being back, I enjoyed the buzz. I Loved seeing all the lads, catching up with the different lads from different provinces, and seeing them again. Rekindling those connections, because that's important as well, that you don't lose those connections and bonds that have been built up over the years."

Whilst Keenan revealed that he thrived in the opportunity to be back in the environment and catching up with his fellow teammates, the 29-year-old admitted that he struggled to watch on as Ireland battled the Springboks in that 'chaotic' 24-13 defeat in Dublin.

"[Ireland v South Africa] Not great, [I was] pulling the hair out a little bit. You want to be out there, you want to have a bit more control, you want to influence it. So, it's a weird feeling. It's the first time I've properly experienced that. I had a little bit towards the end of Leinster season last year, when I hurt my calf prior to the semi-final and final. It's tough when it's always big games that you're missing and ones you want to be out there for. So, I got to the Australia and the South Africa games, so there was a range of emotions for both."

"Chaotic is a good way to describe it. It's strange enough being in the stands, watching on. But it was an extra strange game, just the nature of it, all the referee decisions and how it all played out. I don't think it's right for me to comment on those bits, but yeah, it was a bit of a mad one, wasn't it?

"It's hard to digest and know what even happened in it. I think the character the lads showed, the bravery to keep playing when they were down so many men, to keep at it and keep them out on so many occasions, and even score tries against the world number one side down, with so many men down and backs against the wall, was brilliant to see. So, there's definitely pride in watching on."

The Ireland 15 jersey seems to have taken on quite the injury hex. In Keenan's absence, the duo of Jamie Osborne and Mack Hansen both donned the jersey throughout Ireland's Autumn Nations campaign, with the Leinster and Connacht men now both joining Keenan out on the injury wards. Osborne sustained a shoulder injury in Ireland's win over Japan, whilst Hansen, so soon after making his long awaited return to the pitch, has re-aggravated a foot injury and also sustained a hand injury against the Springboks.

"It's very unfortunate for them both." Keenan said. "The lads haven't had too much luck. I especially sort of felt for Mack, having been on the lions tour and playing so well, being one of the stand out back threes on that tour, and then picking up an injury. He was a man on a mission over there. He, obviously wanted to play against his home nation, and had that extra bit of motivation.

"You could genuinely see that in his play. So. for him to pick up that injury was pretty heartbreaking, but he is such good lad. He was brilliant to me over on tour and getting me back up to speed after I was sick. So, to see him go so well and come back, to finally get a shot against the Aussies and score that hat trick, and get man of the match was fully deserved."

"Hopefully it's not a bad injury. I don't think it is, but maybe re aggravated. So then, Jamie has obviously played well in that period. He's been good, whether it's in the centre or back three. It's good to have that competition, but it's also good that if the three of us are all back fit and healthy, there's space for us all in that back line. If we're all playing well, and if we're all injury free and deserving of a spot, there's room for us all. That's how I see it."