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Kearney's rib injury is healing well. ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Ireland boosted as Kearney takes full part in training

However, Brian O’Driscoll and Jonny Sexton were both forced to watch the session from the sidelines.

ROB KEARNEY TOOK a full part in Ireland’s squad training session at Carton House this morning, with his rib injury healing well.

The fullback suffered the rib cartilage injury late on in Saturday’s defeat to Australia in Dublin, and there had been doubts over his involvement this weekend against the All Blacks. However, Ireland forwards coach John Plumtree says the outlook is good for Kearney.

“He trained alright today. I’m not sure how he’s feeling afterwards, but he took part full in the session today, which was good. I’m sure he’ll be alright.”

It’s much-needed positive news for head coach Joe Schmidt, who needs his most experienced players involved on Sunday. Kearney is one of a handful of recent Lions available to the Kiwi, and the 27-year-old will be relishing the opportunity show his best form against a highly-rated All Blacks back three.

Less positively, Brian O’Driscoll and Jonny Sexton both sat out today’s training session with calf and hamstring problems respectively. Plumtree says neither player is being ruled out, stressing the importance of the extra recovery day Ireland have this week.

Brian hasn’t trained, Jonny Sexton hasn’t trained. Just those two players, but everyone else is good.”

“It’s hard to say [if they'll be available]. The nice thing is that we’ve got a long turnaround this week. It’s only Wednesday, so they’ve got a day off tomorrow, then come in Friday. We’ve got that extra day which is great, so hopefully the boys, by the time they come in Friday, will be feeling a lot better.”

The prospect of Sexton being involved against the All Blacks seemed non-existent when he pulled up just before half time against Australia, with his body language suggesting a serious tear in the hamstring. There is also an advantage for Ireland in not allowing the All Blacks to be aware of who will be lining out in the number 10 shirt until the latest possible moment.

Still, Schmidt will be hoping that both star men will be available for his what is his toughest international coaching assignment yet.

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23 Comments
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    Mute sean byrne
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    Nov 20th 2013, 2:26 PM

    Having Kearney fit is a boost?? Hmm.

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    Mute Mark Campbell
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    Nov 20th 2013, 2:28 PM

    He has been terrible over the past 3 years

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    Mute ger
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    Nov 20th 2013, 2:57 PM

    He is highly respected by ABs, was player of the year in 2012 think ur mixing him up with heaslip!

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    Mute KMJOB
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    Nov 20th 2013, 3:12 PM

    European player of year 2 seasons ago.

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    Mute Pedro
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    Nov 20th 2013, 3:26 PM

    Ger, Heaslip was short listed for ERC Player of the Year last year…

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    Mute Brian Moynihan
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    Nov 20th 2013, 5:03 PM

    easy lads,lets just agree that they’re both playing shit at the moment and have both been great in the past. much like the majority of the Irish team,it’s time these players were made fight for their place.

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    Mute ger
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    Nov 20th 2013, 8:07 PM

    dont think anyone thought he should have been tho – a few performances towards the end of last season helped him but doesnt make up for his poor form in general – when u think of the player he used to be – has been living off that for some time and unlike Kearney and co doesnt have the excuse of injury.

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    Mute Kenneth
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    Nov 20th 2013, 2:30 PM

    Enda kenny is the man to take on the all blacks – fearless man of steal

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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Nov 20th 2013, 2:46 PM

    Kearney is not playing well and it’s not just lately, it’s with a while! He is v good under the high ball that’s his game but he is not a good counter attacker from that position! Zebo when fit springs to mind

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Nov 20th 2013, 3:09 PM

    That’s what we need to do with Zebo play him out of position and destroy 3 years of his rugby by trying of force him into a position that doesn’t really fit.

    Ask Keith Earls would he like the past 3 seasons back and then ask him would you like to play in your best position and become world class or flute about in a position that you reasonably good in?

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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Nov 20th 2013, 3:36 PM

    Need to do? What do you say then to the experts who maintain Zebo would be much better utilised as a full back then a winger? I remember Zebo play full back against South Africa autumn last year and he was very good! The same can’t be said for Keith earls at centre

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    Mute Andrew Potts
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    Nov 20th 2013, 3:41 PM

    Tend to agree Zebo kicks and catches well, but his real talent is he usually is in the right place at the right time and I think that might be better used at full back.

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    Mute Eoin McDowell
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    Nov 21st 2013, 8:10 AM

    @shane Zebo wasn’t that good. He was grand, didn’t play badly, but it was a game utterly dominated by forwards. He didn’t have a great deal to do at full back. Whats with people’s obsession with playing players out of position? Zebo is going to be a ruddy amazing winger, leave him there, there’s no need to be messing him about in the most important years of his development.

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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Nov 21st 2013, 9:30 AM

    He did everything he had to do and the most vital element I’m looking at is he offers way more creativeness then Kearney! Kearney is not half the player he ways! Like I said already I have read umpteen experts say already( they supposedly know rugby better then me) that Zebo would be better off been used as a fb for the type of player he is

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    Mute mcgov
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    Nov 20th 2013, 4:57 PM

    Give Kearney his P45.
    Has he ever read the definition of a full back under the trade descriptions act?

    Less tweeting, more tries.
    Less ego, more aggro.

    He is the worst 1 on 1 defender we’ve had since Geordan Murphy.

    Dagg runs the ball.
    Every Ozzie 15 runs the ball.
    Mike brown & Ben Foden run the ball.

    Kearney does SFA aside from continually sh** talk about thanking the GAA for his great fielding.

    NEXT

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    Mute padraiggrey
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    Nov 20th 2013, 3:29 PM

    Hopefully joe refrains from 10 leinster lads this weekend
    It ain’t working joe
    We need Kearney to play well and o driscoll needs to improve massively
    This game is crucial for him if he starts

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    Mute Silver Fern
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    Nov 20th 2013, 3:54 PM

    Let’s hope he picks the best 15 for the job their province shouldn’t matter when their wearing the green jersey because their Irish first and foremost.

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    Mute Matt Dempsey
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    Nov 20th 2013, 8:33 PM

    By the looks of it Jared Payne will be our full back when he declares for Ireland in 2014

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    Mute Bernard
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    Nov 20th 2013, 10:31 PM

    Great under the high ball. His drop against Australia, stood out, because I cannot remember the last time he dropped a ball. His positional sense is excellent.

    This is all he offers.
    He is awful in defence. He cannot tackle(he does the fake tackle which infuriates those that do put their body on the line, eg BOD or POC). He can only tackle players smaller than himself, who run in a straight line and at zero speed. He requires a second tackler, to help him out. When is the last time he took down a forward single handedly. Pietersen(winger) took down a Scottish Lock, running at him at speed, with ease and then rubbed his face in the dirt. This kind of weakness gets found out. You can get away with it at club level in the NH.

    He offers nothing in attack. He has neither the speed nor the strength nor the evasive moves to break the gain line. Being the last man to walk over the try line, at the end of a move, is worthless.
    What are you going to do, Rob? Up and under, by any chance. Even in this, he does not catch his own kick or nail the opposition tackler. Every time Dagg gets the ball, their is an air of menace. He breaks the line, scores tries and creates them, often from a deep position.

    The Girvan Dempsey/Conor O’Shea type full back does not meet the standard anymore. You cannot simply offer positional ability and good under the high ball. These are basics for full backs not defining qualities. The problem for Ireland is, do we have anyone better?

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    Mute Fiachra Ahern
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    Nov 20th 2013, 8:57 PM

    This is bad news. Kearney has been struggling with form for a while now and needs to be dropped. As seen last weekend his attitude is off as well.

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    Mute Get to the chopper
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    Nov 20th 2013, 6:50 PM

    I’d throw Madigan full back and Jackson out half (presuming le frog is injured), Kearney hasn’t broke the line in years say international level, doesn’t even like he believes he can anymore

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