DAVE KEARNEY’S INVOLVEMENT in the early stages of the Six Nations is in some doubt after he suffered a shoulder injury in Leinster’s 20-20 draw with Wasps in Coventry this afternoon.
Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor indicated that Kearney would be sidelined for “several weeks” post-match at the Ricoh Arena, and with Ireland set to play Italy on 7 February, the left wing may be in a race against time to prove his fitness.
Kearney was injured in a controversial incident in the opening minute of the Champions Cup clash, when Wasps back row Ashley Johnson collided with the 25-year-old as he rose into the air to gather Andy Goode’s kick-off.
https://vine.co/v/OI30vdqT31O
Referee Jérôme Garcès deemed Johnson’s actions worthy of ten minutes in the sin bin, but there have been many suggestions that the flanker should have seen red for what has been perceived as a reckless challenge.
Here’s what both coaches had to say after the game:
Wasps’ Dai Young
I thought it was the right decision, but they have gone the other way as well. But to me I thought it was the right call really.
It didn’t help our cause that’s for sure, it was very early in the game but it takes the wind out of your sails when you want to start big and put pressure on them. It means you’ve got to patch up in other areas.
Leinster’s Matt O’Connor
I haven’t had a look at it. The frustration for us is we lose a bloke for 80 minutes, they lose a bloke for 10 minutes. Now that doesn’t make sense to me, but I haven’t seen the incident again.
I don’t know whether it was right or wrong. A bloke takes a guy out illegally and we lose a guy, which compromises the bench. They lose a bloke for 10 minutes…
It was rejigged after the Jared Payne – Alex Goode incident last year. There is a duty of care on the player to make sure guys land safely.That is the law that they are running with.
It’s just disappointing to lose a guy a minute into the game and for several weeks and the sanction is 10 minutes.
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
What was your take on the incident? Should Johnson have been further punished or was ten minute in the bin sufficient?
I think it’s hilarious all the hating on Robbie on this. People seem to forget he’s the only player we have who can nick a goal. Granted we have more technical strikers but it’s all about scoring and Robbie is the only source we have
Have a lot more time for Robbie than Roy, yet some people still slag Robbie and rubbish his achievements with Ireland while at the same time worshiping at the altar of Roy. Never in a million years will another Irishman ever score 66 goals for his country, and deep down we all know that.
Robbie never let us down.
To be honest I think we will be just fine without Robbie keane
If we don’t play Darren in goal, Sol won’t be happy!!
Good article but I’d have to disagree that spurs have used 4-4-2 effectively.
McGeady & McLean or Walters. Its the one position we have a few options
Walters is chronic
Forde
Coleman – Clark – O’Shea – Wilson
McCarthy – Reid – Meyler
McGeady – Long – McClean
Would be a good shout.
Randolph
O’Shea Dunne Wilson
Coleman Brady
Mccarthy Meyler
Reid
Long Keane
Brady will not play again this season so you’ll have to find someone else!
personally I think our best 11 is
Given
Coleman-Dunne-O’Shea-Brady
McCarthy-Gibson
McGeady-Hoolahan-Pilkington
Long
brady left back?! given back in nets?
randolph
coleman – oshea – wilson – delaney
mccarthy – meyler
mcgeady – hoolahan – brady
long
would be a good team for tomorrow night – our best team; im not sure what it is – but what its not
@Brendan, Brady has played left wing back for Hull for the past 2 and a bit seasons and it would be a good balance with Coleman at lb, after all Wilson is right footed so Brady would provide more delivery’s. And why not Given?hes shown in the past couple of months hes still well capable of producing great performance. Im all for Forde but his distribution can be rubbish at times
Delaney is back at his club!
… so is Brady!
I disagree that Hoolihan could only be accommodated in a 4-5-1. He could play in a 4-4-3 or a 4-2-3-1 which given the players currently available to Ireland might be the way forward. There are a few players out tomorrow with injuries but going forward my first choice Irish 11 would be
Forde
Coleman, Dunne, O’Shea, Wilson
Gibson, McCarthy
McGeady, Reid or Hoolihan, Brady
Long
I think that Pilkington could do a job on either side of the 3 as could Walters at a push.
That was meant to be 4-3-3* of course :) tho maybe we could sneak an extra player in, who knows
agreed, best looking line-up there, for the near future at least anyway.
As the article suggested, having McCarthy and Gibson sit in front of the back 4 would be great to utilize one of our best attacking options – right-back Coleman. McCarthy too has been excellent in that sitting position for Everton
Need to start playing Clark, as the only decent centre back we have under 30, the more international gametime he get the better.
Think we’d be better concentrating on the players actually available tomorrow rather than playing pie-in-the-sky selections for the future.
Hopefully it’s the last we see of Paul Green
Long up Front alone is just madness, where on earth are the goals going to come from.
Good player as part of a duo, but terrible goal scoring record at every level…..forget qualifying for anything with him up front alone.
Lewandovski is miles ahead of him.
Yeah and he plays for Poland so we ‘re fooked there boss!
I would like to see use play with wing backs with 3 in the centre of the park and 3 in the centre of defence. Has been utilised to good effect by the like of Hull and Villa recently, particularly when taking on the bigger teams giving you stability at the back and a chance to pack the midfield (both places we have struggled recently).