IRELAND HEAD COACH Andy Farrell has been handed some good news ahead of Saturday’s meeting with the New Zealand, with Robbie Henshaw set to return to team training this week.
The centre was in superb form for Leinster and Ireland last season, resulting in a call up for the British and Irish Lions’ tour to South Africa, where he started all three Tests against the Springboks.
However Henshaw has yet to play any rugby this season after picking up a foot injury.
But the IRFU have confirmed that the 28-year will be re-integrated into team training this week ahead of Saturday’s clash against the All Blacks.
Head coach Farrell has no fresh injury concerns following Saturday’s comprehensive 60-5 defeat of Japan, although Gavin Coombes will not train with the squad this week and has been ruled out of the New Zealand game.
The Munster back rower is recovering from illness, but has not yet been ruled out of next week’s final Autumn Nations Series game against Argentina.
The Aviva Stadium is a sell-out for the clash against New Zealand, who warmed up for their trip to Dublin with a seven-try, 47-9 win over Italy on Saturday.
Ireland have beaten New Zealand twice in the last five years, but the last meeting between the sides saw the All Blacks run out comprehensive 46-14 winners in their 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
The game will also represent Farrell’s first fixture against southern hemisphere opposition since succeeding Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach two years ago.
Poor Gavin Coombes, I hope he recovers quickly from his illness; very unfortunate.
@Richard James: Paul Boyle, JOD or Timoney would be good for the bench. This was one area of weakness on Saturday. Too many penalties given away when replacements came on which won’t work with NZ.
Thats good news for Andy, now he can remove the one non Leinster player from the XV.
@Kingshu: this kind of comment perfectly encapsulates Internet logic. Conway is deemed a Leinster player because he went through the Leinster system, even though he plays for Munster. Henshaw is deemed a Leinster player because he plays for Leinster, even though he went through the Connacht system. Because why use consistent logic when contradictory logic can meet a need.
@John Molloy: wouldn’t pay much attention to him
@Kingshu: Henshaw will always be a renowned Connacht Player and Pro12 winner that went to Leinster on a transfer.
*Leinster
@John Molloy: or it just short for the well established fact that all bit one of the last xv either play or played for leinster.
@Kingshu: yup and they were all great. So what’s the problem?
@Kevin: Did I say there was a problem?
@Kingshu: not a bad idea.
@Kingshu: I see your predicted bet for the Japanese games didn’t come off
@Danger: you are right, it didn’t. These things aren’t easy, no one thought it would be such a big win. I see that you are only commenting on it after the event, which is easy. If you said any thing in agreement, or disagreement before the game that would have meant something. Any comments on it afterwards are meaningless.
Bench? Or is a center on the bench a bit risky? He has been Ireland’s stand out player past 2 years.
@Robbie Alexander: he can cover full back lol
@Robbie Alexander: He shouldn’t be in the 23 at all. As brilliant as he’s been, he hasn’t played at all this season. Maybe if it was last week he’d get a run out but putting him against the all blacks without a single minute of rugby under his belt is asking for trouble
@Phil Redmond: the only thing i’d say is he is the sort of player who can come in after a break and rip it up – in a good way – unlike many players who need a few games to get back up to speed. but you’re probably right from the injury angle – it risks flaring up again or a separate strain/pull coming from not playing in a while
@Paddy Kennedy: Agree he could come in and have a blinder but the risk is what if he doesn’t. Against a lesser team you could maybe risk it but not against NZ. They’d look at that team and think ok this guy hasn’t played since August. Let’s test him early and often and if he’s not absolutely on it then we’ve handed them a weak spot on a plate
Great news on henshaw but very disappointing bout coombes. Just bad timing i guess.
Huge fan of henshaw but this r0bbish of being picked on reputation is just wrong. Players shouldn’t have automatic selection in squads/23.
It should be whos the form Players for the provinces get the nod to camp and pick the 23 from that to suit. I do believe that henshaw is the best centre in the country but bundi and ringrose went well last weekend and deserve to start against NZ. It should be on henshaw to win his spot back and not just given to him cause he is deemed fit to play.
Great to see the Connacht Rugby legend Henshaw coming back to fitness.
@Mentis Green:
He’s from Athlone, part of leinster
@Tom Cunningham:
1. He was born in Galway
2. Areas of Athlone (west of the Shannon) reside in province of Connacht.
3. All schools rugby in Athlone Buccaneers etc is Connacht Schools Rugby.
4. I specifically said “Connacht Rugby” legend.
5. He came through the Connacht Rugby system and helped Connacht Rugby win the pro 12 in 2016 defeating the opposition which was Leinster Rugby rather emphatically by 20-10
Wonder will he play AIL this weekend? I think I’ll start a rumour that he is togging out for Buccaneers,because he needs game time
@rugbyanbeer: we’d love to have him but unfortunately we dont have a game and he cant play in div 2a as a pro
Hasn’t played 1 minute this season. Surely they can’t start him. Would be madness, I don’t care how good the player he will be rusty. Nothing compares to actual gametime
Should start ahead of Aki
@Hugh: same Ireland centre partnership this weekend as last. Doubt he’ll be ready for Argies either. Come the 6N if his Leinster form is back to pre-Lions he’ll suit up with Bundee for the 6N….
What’s the news on Gavin Coombes? Is he over his infection?
@Con Cussed: He’s ruled out for this weekend unfortunately
Henshaw is
@David: Henshaw is a starter on his latest form.
@David: you mean his form back in August? He isn’t a starter, and he won’t be on the bench against NZ, not without having had a run out for Leinster or Ireland since the Lions series. Far too much of a gamble. He’ll be back for the 6N though, with Bundee…
@Sea__Point: robbie and frawley v Argentina. Bundee and ringrose v allblacks simple.
@Chris Mc: spot on Chris.
@Chris Mc: I’d love to see Hume given another go too, a pity that the USA game was cancelled, that would have been a nice chance for a few of the lads just coming through, I’d be interested to see what Frawley could do at 10 if given a run for Leinster, when he did play 10 he looked much better than Harry Byrne, who I still don’t think is the best fly half in his household
@Patrick Breen leinster need a centre so frawley wont get much game time at 10 just yet. Im not a ross fan so i disagree harrys not the best on his own house but hes not yet ready for international rugby.
@Chris Mc: I agree with Patrick on this one
The only player I’ve seen to date that can step up at ten and not be either injured or a stand in but actually challenge sexton is I’m convinced is Frawley
On very scant evidence I agree but that in itself is I believe becoming a national disgrace
( clue – France have 5 very viable options all competing for the 10 shirt and we have exactly the square root of feck all …….
How about you concentrate on IRELAND V New Zealand for once and park the “provincial” spat until later?! Just a suggestion. Farrell will always have to justify team selection irrespective of any perceived favouritism. Would anyone really put there livelihood and reputation on the line in that way?! Highly unlikely.
While it would be great to have Henshaw it then means others such as RB should be considered too, otherwise there is no consistency. If RB is too soon after injury so too should Henshaw.