IRELAND REMAIN OPTIMISTIC about their injury situation ahead of this weekend’s World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand, even if James Ryan could miss out on taking his place on the bench.
However, Ireland are increasingly hopeful that left wing James Lowe will be available to face the All Blacks on Saturday night in Paris, with the eye injury that forced him off at half time against Scotland continuing to improve.
Lowe was involved in training in Paris today, although he was wearing a bib to mark him out as a player returning from injury, ensuring team-mates didn’t make any accidental contact with him.
Right wing Mack Hansen picked up a calf injury in last weekend’s win over Scotland and he sat out training in Paris today.
However, it’s understood that Ireland are still hoping Hansen could be involved in their training session tomorrow and prove that he’s fit to take on New Zealand this weekend. Understandably, they’re said to be keen to manage Hansen’s workload this week.
They will give key man Hansen every chance to prove he can play in the quarter-final but if Hansen ends up being ruled out tomorrow, then Keith Earls is expected to come into the Ireland team on the right wing.
36-year-old Earls is recovering well from a hamstring strain that meant he wasn’t available for the Scotland match and he trained with Ireland today.
Centre Robbie Henshaw also trained today as his hamstring issue improves quicker than initially expected and he may even come into contention to feature on the bench this weekend. If the quarter-final comes too soon for Henshaw, it’s thought Ireland believe he could be involved in a potential semi-final.
Second row James Ryan, who came off the bench against Scotland, remains a doubt for weekend, having gone for a specialist appointment after suffering a wrist/hand injury in last weekend’s game.
It’s understood that Ryan returned to Dublin for that specialist visit. He was not present at training in Paris today.
Ryan played through obvious pain to finish the game against the Scots and while Ireland issued a relatively optimistic update on the Leinster man yesterday, saying he has not been ruled out of the All Blacks clash, he is a clear doubt.
However, it’s understood that Ireland are optimistic that if they reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, Ryan could be fit enough to feature in that game against Wales or Argentina.
If Ryan misses out this weekend against the All Blacks, his place on the bench is set to go to either Ryan Baird or Joe McCarthy.
Baird started in the second row for Ireland’s Grand Slam-clinching win over England earlier this year but he has been playing at blindside flanker recently. Four-times capped McCarthy has made a big impression behind the scenes with Ireland at this World Cup and Farrell name-checked him last week ahead of the Scotland game. 15-times capped Baird certainly has the greater experience in high-stakes situations.
Andy Farrell will name his matchday 23 tomorrow, Wednesday, which is a day earlier than usual.
Ireland normally name their team on Thursday, but say they have brought it forward as Thursday is their rest day and they are not required to travel from their base in Tours this week, as was the case in previous match weeks, having already relocated to Paris for the knock-out stages. Keen to give the players a full day of rest, including from media commitments, Ireland have brought the announcement forward.
Whatever about the injury concerns early this week, it seems likely that the team Farrell names tomorrow will be similar to the one that beat Scotland last weekend, barring any fresh injury concerns from tomorrow’s training session.
Indeed, if Hansen manages to prove his fitness, the Ireland team would almost certainly be unchanged. If not, Earls’ inclusion could be the only change to the starting XV.
I’d have Jimmy over Earls at this stage.
@Adrian: JOB should be way ahead of Earls.
@Adrian: at 36 does earls have 80 minutes in him?
@Oran Burns: How should he be way ahead? They both cover the same positions, Earls is more defensive minded and experienced.Keith has a lot to give still, there’s reason he’s there. There’s very little between them other than age and experience.
@Oran Burns: the fact that Earls has played at this WC shows that you haven’t a clue. Farrell has shown he has huge trust in Earls. This is like your ridiculous comment that McCarthy will have a huge WC.
@Adrian: do you think you know more than Farrell?
@Adrian: lucky you aint in charge then
@Oran Burns: lol didnt realise it was april fool day already
@Oran Burns: why should he? I’m not saying that earls is nailed on over JOB who’s a good player but this is massive game and KE has the experience ….JOB looked very shaky under high ball in last outing.. anyway..no matter what province yorue from…think we’re all hoping MH makes it…has become a world class winger
@John Buckley: leave the petty provincial stuff out… both players have their pros and cons. Earls is getting but great experience but there is plenty of experience in the team already… JOB is more of a like for like replacement for Hansen so I think he will make it if it comes to that…
@Oran Burns: Earls hadn’t played all last season.
JOB has played on the wing consistently for the last 2 years in big European games and won MOTM awards.
@John Buckley: the fact that Earls has played at this WC renforces the point.JOB should be ahead but isn’t.
MC Carthy has already made a big impact and could be playing in the second half this weekend.
I’m surprised your not asking for CJ Stander on the wing!
@brian o’leary: JS 38?
@Tom Murphy: you are the one bringing petty provincial stuff into it. Earls replaced Hansen for the first game so you are wrong.
@Adrian: Do I recall correctly that Jimmy had to be taken off on both occasions he was given a run in the playoffs?
@John Morris: warmups!
@Oran Burns: how does it reinforce the point; it proves Earls is ahead of JOB and you haven’t got a clue.
Mccarthy played against the worst team, that is not making an impact, you are deluded. If Ryan is injured , Baird and Conan are most likely to be on the bench.
I don’t think any foreign mercenary should play for Ireland and Stander is not irish. You are accusing provincial bias to put your deluded opinions across as facts.
@Oran Burns: maybe look back at JOBs performance in the 2022 heineken cup final in marseille. come back to us then.
@Ger: has he 80 in him?
Hansen’s playmaking abilities have made him vital to our hopes of success, Lowes defence has improved by multiples and his big left boot for a 50-22 can change the complexion of a game in a matter of seconds. We need these two lads fit more so than most bar Sexton obviously.
Hansen’s distribution is so important to the way we play. Sounds like he’s 50/50 at the minute. Fingers crossed
Increasingly looking like Ryan is out of contention for this weekend. It’s Baird v McCarthy for the bench. A close call. Two very different styles of play, bringing very different strengths to the squad. I feel Baird will get the nod, but would prefer McCarthy every day of the week. We all saw the benefits of Ryan’s aggression and physicality (even with a badly damaged wrist) when he came on. We lose this hugely if Baird is the 2nd row sub IMO. McCarthy has done everything asked of him during the past few months. If we saw him coming off the bench with 20 to go, we know that the scrum stays solid and our defensive maul stays combative. I’m not sure we can say the same about Baird. Plus I would wager a couple of big moments from McCarthy either through turnovers / tackles.
@Mark Murphy: But also depends on covering for injuries. Baird/Conan allows you to cover 6(and lock) and 8, so in the unlikely event of 2/3 of the backrow getting injured early we’re covered. But agree on the physicality point, personally I don’t think Baird is big enough to play lock at international level.
@Andrew Slazenger:
If Baird’s not big enough, then is Beirne?
And Ryan/Henderson are only 3kg heavier.
Not the same disparity as to Willemse (127kg) or Skelton (142kg)
James Ryan 116kg | 123kg Brodie Retallick
Tadgh Beirne 113kg | 120kg Sam Whitelock
Iain Henderson 116kg |
Ryan Baird 113kg | 111kg Scott Barrett
Joe McCarthy 119kg
It’s a close call – Baird more mobile and good in the lineout,
McCarthy seems to add more weight/power in scrum/maul – he seems to have stopped conceding dumb penalties at the breakdown.
In Andy we trust.
@Andrew Slazenger: fair point, but with Henderson and Beirne in the 2nd row, I think we have enough #6 cover if needed. Hard one to call, but we are going to need to have genuine impact subs, and for me, McCarthy trumps Baird.
@Pat M: i’m with Andrew on this one. I don’t think that Baird is powerful enough for a top level 2nd row. Not sure how accurate your weights are, but to say that Baird is heavier than S Barret is very hard to believe. I just can’t see him adding as much impact as McCarthy to what’s going to be a massive forward battle. But as you say… I’m Farrell we trust!!!
I feel Earls experience is the man
Not as positive as yesterday. Lowe seems like he’ll make it but Hansen sounds touch and go, if he can’t train fully tomorrow then he can’t play Saturday. Ryan now struggling to even be back for a potential semi final it sounds. No Hansen means it must be JOB over Earls, he can go the full 80 + means we can have McC or Henshaw on the bench, meaning if there’s no injuries we can take Aki off after 50/60 mins, don’t forget Aki has played every minute of this WC so far, pretty sure no other player in the tournament has done that
@Andrew Slazenger: Him and Keenan are the only 2. but Aki is 33 and has taken/given a lot of big shots, agree that he could do with a short shift.
@Colm O’Connor: Of course, forgot about Keenan, but yes Aki at 33 + huge amount of heavy contact he’s got through more in need of a rest
@Andrew Slazenger: Hansen could step out of his scratcher and play. That’s the sort of character he his.
@Andrew Slazenger: ok andy
@Andrew Slazenger: Aki will only come off if he loses a leg or an arm
@Andrew Slazenger: This match is likely to go the wire, not a hope in hell Aki comes off other than through injury
Brillent
I wouldn’t want to read too much into this, but Hansen started 2 of the tests in New Zealand and Earls started the other. Guess which game we lost?
@Colm O’Connor: sorry that Earls potentially starting has upset you so much
@Colm O’Connor: that’s just silly analysis and you know it…is earls better than MH…we all know he’s not but ireland didn’t lose that test because of earls
@Colm O’Connor: if tadgh beirne wasnt on the pitch we wouldnt have won the 3rd test. 4 turnovers in our own half in the final 20 minutes when they were throwing everything at us.
@Colm O’Connor: no idea
Love those photos
If Earls starts, and Henshaw out, who is our 23?
@Arjuna: sonny bill mccloskey.
@Arjuna: Jack Crowley fills 10, 12 and 15
@Gearoid Stakelum: Same old – Crowley only fills 10. Unless you’re expecting 80 from Johnny.
@John Morris: unless Ross Byrne ia also on the bench.
@brian o’leary: no chat about who covers FB if mach doesn’t make it?
Should make the call on James ryan and get cian healy out for bench will need our bench to win this one
@Patrick Ryan: Why hurry on Ryan? He’s clearly a vital player and leader and whoever comes in won’t get a training session this week. If there’s a shot that Ryan can make a semis or a finals you’ve got to keep him unless injuries elsewhere start racking up. We can afford to carry an injured player or two.
There’s capable locks to cover his spot on the bench, and nothing we call up will have as big an impact this week as he might on a final or semi
If Mack isn’t fit then I think Ringrose out to the wing and bring McCloskey to the centre with Earls on the bench. JO’B hadn’t played I’m nearly six weeks I don’t think he would be ready for a match like this Henshaw out so Earls on the bench as can cover all across the back line. Baird aswell over McCarthy covers more positions. One final Crowely for sure over Byrne. As he brings an x factor and more versatile. Cheers
@Colin Campbell: nah, Ringrose is natural 13, Aki is not…and against AB u need to be