IRELAND WINGS MACK Hansen and James Lowe are “making good progress” with their injuries ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand in Paris.
Hansen picked up a calf issue during last weekend’s pool win over Scotland, while James Lowe was forced off with an eye injury, but this morning’s update on the wing duo was encouraging for Irish fans.
Meanwhile, second row James Ryan will see a specialist after suffering a wrist injury against Scotland, but Ireland say they have not ruled anyone out of the All Blacks clash at this stage.
Robbie Henshaw and Keith Earls, who have been dealing with hamstring injuries, could even come back into contention for the quarter-final after Ireland delivered a positive injury update.
“James Ryan is seeing a specialist and we’re hoping for better news than originally anticipated,” said Ireland team manager Mick Kearney in Paris.
“Mack Hansen took a bang to his calf but is improving. Both him and James Lowe are making good strides. Keith Earls and Robbie Henshaw are both in contention as they progress during the week.
“Apart from that, just some usual bumps and bruises after a physical Test match.”
While a specialist visit is usually not good news, Kearney said that Ireland remain optimistic about Ryan.
“We won’t have a definitive on James until after he sees the specialist but certainly there would be more optimism around James than probably what was originally anticipated.
“He’s seeing the specialist today so we should know more either later this evening, tomorrow morning, tomorrow afternoon, or whenever. Certainly, within the next 24 hours we should have a clearer picture of where James is at.”
And the Ireland team manager confirmed that there have been no call-ups to the squad at this point.
“No call-ups, no one added to the squad, and at this stage, no one ruled out for the match against New Zealand on Saturday night,” said Kearney.
A largely positive update supported by the fact the there have been no call ups to the squad. Hopefully all lads are fit and ready to go Saturday.
Can’t belive I’m going to be there
@James Murphy: Enjoy… ☘
After the pool games to have no one rulled out is a great achievement. I know there are some doubts for the weekend but not to have to call up a player at this stage is great news.
Hanson and Lowe have nearly made themselves irreplaceable they way they fit into how we play. Keep the fingers, arms, legs and toes crossed for them all. Be fantastic to go full tilt next Saturday. It would give us all in this country some lift if they can do it….I would go if I could!
Very positive on Lowe and Hansen but of course we never really know… Sounds like Ryan is 100% out of the NZ match, really hope he can make it back for the semi-final (if we get there etc etc)
Great performance by the entire squad so far. Hope everyone fit and raring to go for Saturday. We will need to be at our very best for the blacks, but it’s so doable. Eireann Abú.
How come nobody has mentioned Furlong? He came off injured but no mention?
@Arjuna: Yeh hopefully means he’s 100% fine…
@Arjuna: he looked like he was carring his injured during the game what pain he must off went through but he was smiling coming off
Can imagine James Lowe eye being sore after accidentally being poked in the eye,very sore ,ouch,still trying to put it out of my head, ouch
@martin byrne: Yes, indeed. I had that when a limb of a tree I was pruning fell and hit me directly in the eye. Hugely painful and I immediately lost my vision in that eye. Complete blur on that side. But even so, with some prescribed antibiotic drops, my eye fully recovered within 4 days. The eye has amazing healing powers. Based on my experience and news of Lowe, I am expecting him to be fine.
You can’t believe a word of these injury updates. Do you think they’ll show their hand to New Zealand days in advance?
@Aidan Farrell: it changes all the time, we have all played games where we though we’d be out the next week and recovered in time and ruled out for something small. If they are not replaced then farrell is confident they will be ok for this week or fingers crossed next week
Ryan is a big big loss, but with Earls also injured I would say the loss of Hansen and Lowe would be disastrous
@Jorgen Hartogs: agree, everyone loves Jacob Stockdale, but defensively and play-making we wouldn’t be the same
I knew they be fine