GARRY RINGROSE COULD make his return from injury when Leinster resume their Guinness Pro14 campaign against Dragons on Friday, with the centre returning to full contact training today.
Ringrose has been sidelined since undergoing shoulder surgery following Ireland’s summer tour of USA and Japan but is now nearing a comeback after five months out of action.
Leinster say they will monitor the 22-year-old as the week progresses but are optimistic he will feature against Treviso the following weekend if Friday comes too soon.
Ringrose’s availability would be a major fillip for the eastern province ahead of another crucial block of fixtures, which includes December’s back-to-back Champions Cup games against Exeter Chiefs.
Isa Nacewa is also in contention to return against Dragons at the RDS on Friday night after recovering from an ankle injury, while Fergus McFadden (hamstring), Ian Nagle (pectoral muscle) and Dan Leavy (hamstring) are all being assessed ahead of Thursday’s team announcement.
Leo Cullen won’t know until later in the week who he’ll have available for this week with Joe Schmidt yet to finalise his selection for Ireland’s final November Test against Argentina. The likes of Dave Kearney, Andrew Porter and James Tracy may yet be released from international camp.
Leinster will definitely be without Mick Kearney (AC joint) and Josh van der Flier (ankle) but both have made good progress in their respective rehab programmes, while Barry Daly (ankle), Jamie Heaslip (back) and Tom Daly (knee) remain long-term absentees.
As was confirmed by the IRFU this morning, Joey Carbery has suffered a fractured wrist and it’s unlikely the Leinster back will feature again this year.
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No formal mention of Lowe making his debut yet. Surely worth a mention in the article if it is going to happen. It would make a dose of cold on Friday night worth it.
(Also: why has the hot whiskey stand disappeared from the RDS?)
@e o’keeffe: More importantly, what happened to the players coming onto the pitch with “Welcome to the Jungle” on the loud speaker as opposed to Justin Bieber or whatever child-friendly drivel they have playing these days?
Good news. Could see him on the wing in the 6N. Might not be the most popular suggestion and I think he is best at 13 but could be a handy way to get our best players on the park. Conway and Rob Kearney to fight it out for the full back spot (I’d love TOH to get a go but, at this stage, I think Joe’s preferred options are plain) with the other in the 23 shirt.
@LM: He’s the best 13 in the country. Assuming he comes back in form, he starts at 13. If both Aki and Henshaw are playing great too then there’s a possibility that Henshaw could play 15. Especially with Nacewa back at 12 and Joey injured, Leinster might try Henshaw there.
@LM: your best leinster players is it.. laughable that you want to put him on the wing ahead of earls sweetman or stockdale… his position is centre so fight it out with others. And with henshaw and aki performing so well.. on the bench for now he goes and wait.
@Philip Conway:
He might be the best 13 – it’s him or Henshaw – but making the best team is not necessarily about getting the best players in the best positions. Playing Henshaw at full back is another way to do it but I think our best XV has Aki, Henshaw and a fit Ringrose all in it and so it’s something to think about. I also think Ringrose has all the tools to play on the wing.
@John:
I’m an Ulster fan, John, but full marks for immediately trying to make it an interprovincial slanging match.
He’s too brave in the tackle, one of his shoulders were bound to go. He’s young though so ill bet he’ll tone down the hits a bit.
With a bit of luck joe will grow a few back to us
@Chris Mc: Cullen and Lancaster could still put out a pretty good backline without anybody being released – 15. Lowe, 14. McFadden, 13. Ringrose, 12. Reid, 11. O’Loughlin, 10. Byrne, 9. Gibson-Park, with McCarthy, Marsh and Conor O’Brien on the bench
@beni gabor: I was almost falling for it until you mentioned Gibson park.
@Chris Mc: McCarthy then. He looks like a good prospect. I forgot Larmour. He’d probably get in ahead of McFadden.
Anyone know if Lowe is in line to be in the squad over the next couple of weeks? Cheers