IRELAND EXPECT TO have centre Garry Ringrose back from injury in time for their last two Six Nations games against Scotland and England.
The 28-year-old has been ruled out of tomorrow’s clash with Italy in Rome due to a calf issue, but Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt confirmed that Ringrose will “definitely not” be sidelined for long.
With Ringrose’s withdrawal only confirmed this morning, Stuart McCloskey comes back into the starting side and Jimmy O’Brien is included on the Irish bench.
“Garry picked a bit of knock up on his calf last week,” explained Catt after Ireland’s captain’s run at the Stadio Olimpico this afternoon.
“We’ve sort of managed it through the week and unfortunately, I think due to the travel and everything yesterday, he’s woken up a little bit tight. He’s obviously very, very disappointed because it was going to be his 50th cap, so he’s out.
“But it does give Stuart McCloskey, who is coming back into the team, and Jimmy O’Brien an opportunity to play in a side that’s flying at the moment and gives them an opportunity to show what they’re about as well.”
Asked if Ringrose’s injury is a long-term one, Catt indicated that he will be back soon.
“No, definitely not,” said Catt. “It literally just tightened up this morning. He hasn’t pulled anything or done anything like that. It’s obviously very disappointing for him.”
Bundee Aki is expected to move to outside centre against the Italians as McCloskey comes back in at number 12 and Catt is confident that powerful pairing will do a good job of contributing to Ireland’s slick attack.
“Bundee and Stuart have both got an understanding of how we want to play, obviously they will play to their strengths, make no bones about it,” said Catt.
“But they’re quite capable of playing any game that we decide to play. Whatever the defence gives us, they will make the right decisions on the back of it so it’s exciting times.
“And obviously defensively it’s two big guys there that can show a real physical dominance in the centres, so it’s exciting times for those two.”
Ringrose missing out is the latest in a string of injury setbacks for Ireland during this Six Nations, with several of them having come soon before games.
Captain Johnny Sexton and key man Tadhg Furlong are among those on the injury list, but Catt stressed that these are positive challenges for the squad.
“As a group, that’s where we’re still learning,” he said. “We’ve obviously got a load of injuries that are out, some of the top guys in world rugby are out at the moment and I think the guys have fitted in seamlessly.
“James Ryan coming in as captain again, I think you’ve also got to look not necessarily just at James but Iain Henderson, Ross Byrne, who is a calming voice, Hugo Keenan, all these guys have been around for quite a while.
“There is a good leadership group there and it gives them something to focus on. But I think they’ve been exceptional throughout the week, they’ve really driven the team the way we want the team to go, so let’s hope the performance can do that.”
……been suggested to me that AF has a team tactic in place to pull players late as injured to somehow simulate WC conditions ….create ‘managing disruption’ training for the team. Thoughts anyone?
@Michael Murray: Makes sense. Good way to prep the players psychologically for late call-ups to the team. Course it’s only really possible because of the strength in depth of the squad.
@Michael Murray: nonsense.
@Michael Murray: Cant see the value in it when the attrition rate is going to produce opportunities to bring players in. If the Ringrose knock had happened before the game against England or Scotland would AF risked him?
@Christiaan Theron: ..
Thanks for a ‘thought through’ reply.
@Michael Murray: FWIW I think that the threshold of what defines an injury or knock that is absence inducing very much depends on the 2 factors. 1. How competitive is the opposition. 2. How important is that player going forward. Ringrose is arguably in the Top 3 of Irelands most important players. So even an inkling of a knock would expect he would be “wrapped in cotton wool”.
@Christiaan Theron: …nothing wrong and a lot right with that rationale.
@Michael Murray: as soon as I read the article I was thinking the same thing. It’s like this is some sort of training for the players to see how they cope if called up to replace a late withdrawal. All the keep positions so far 9, 10, 1,2,3,4,5, 13. I bet Keenan will be pulled for the Scotland game and then one of the wingers, if not both for the England game. Let’s face it, the back row is fine as we have been chopping and changing for over a year now without any bother, so the cohesion is there.
@Christiaan Theron: so would that say if he’s wrapped in cotton wool then you’re saying Ringrose is one of those players that flips that on its head to 1. Is how important that player is going forward? And the. 2. How important the competition? Or am I misunderstanding?
@SPQH:1. How competitive is the opposition? If this was the Scottish or English match. Ringrose would probably play.
2. How important is that player going forward? Ringrose would be central to the games against Scotland and England so why risk his knock against Italy when the squad is in rude health in the centers. Sufficient depth when Osbourne and Frisch have not yet made the matchday 23.
@Christiaan Theron:
I would dispute Ringrose ask top three most important whe we consider we have Henshaw and Bundee, the Lions pairing.
Most important are Sexton, JVF, Porter, JGP
Bealham and McCloskey have shorten up the gaps.
Can’t see why Marmion is not in the squad considering the similar playing style and speed he has with JGP.
Looks more precautionary than anything else! Gotta wonder how hard the ground is the Portuguese or Carton training ground – too many of these injuries.
Ringrose is a huge blow defensively! I’m not sure about Aki covering 13, especially against the type of Rugby Italy play.
This game is turning into a potential banana skin with a very significant number of first 15 not starting – arguably 7 not starting now from our first choice
2 x front row (hooker is marginal)
1 x 2nd row
Backrow arguably better
2 x centre
2 x half backs
but we should still have enough to win it. Don’t really need to be chasing this game so a good start probably important.
@BMJF: I’m thinking Italy will have their 15min purple patch, Capuozzo will look electric, will get at least 1 try….. Ireland still win. Our bench is actually very strong indeed. Sheehan, Murray and POM in there amongst others.
@SPQH: I stand to be made a fool of course, no one truly knows the future. Just me 2 cents.
The level of physicality with Bundee and Stu is gonna be fascinating. I wonder if the two lads at centre and Gary on the wing would be a possible line up against SA in the World Cup, a bit of a leveller in terms of grit. Hard to believe that when BOD retired we’d be where we are now depth wise in that area now. Hopefully we get the win and everyone walks off in one piece.