IRELAND TEAM MANAGER Mick Kearney says that Johnny Sexton’s injury worry is ‘nothing of concern’ for the squad’s medical staff.
Sexton was replaced at half-time during Racing Metro’s Top14 defeat to Oyonnax with a thigh problem just days out from the international season opener against South Africa in the Aviva Stadium.
Today, however, Kearney says that there had been a pre-existing agreement that Sexton would only play a portion of the French league fixture.
“He had got some tightness, but nothing of concern and he will train later on today,” said Kearney.
“He was always going to take a limited part in the game, so he did come off for that reason. Not for any other reason.”
The outlook is not so clear for Ireland’s two most experienced front rows; Mike Ross and Rory Best.
The Ulster captain is suffering with a tight calf and will take part in modified training today with the medical staff set to monitor his progress closely.
‘Reasonably confident’
Ross, Kearney says, remains likely to start after coming through some multi-directional training and running having focused on ‘static’ work last week.
“It’ll be 30 days since he played against Munster,” the team manager pointed out.
“It is a bit of a concern, but he has done very well over the last week or 10 days. He’s met all his markers and as we say we’re reasonably confident that he’ll be available for selection.”
Outside of the front row there are no fresh injury concerns as Chris Henry, Rhys Ruddock (both rested on Friday), Tommy Bowe, Stuart Olding, Gordon D’Arcy, Jack McGrath and Rob Kearney all expected to join Sexton in a full training schedule this week.
Considering that racing lost the game it might be harder to negotiate such “agreements” in the future.
The omission of Casey looks like a real oversight if best isn’t available. Consistent ball from set pieces will be crucial if we are to stand a chance against SA. Casey hasn’t been tested at international level, which of course Cronin ans Strauss have been, but he’s been the form 2 in the country since the start of the season. His interaction with 2 of Ireland’s nailed on starters (poc and pj) would go a long way to getting fast ball from the lineout. Obviously a hookers job isn’t just darts, but a return rate of less than 90% here will crucify us against SA.
Best isn’t a great darts man, but he’s worth a penalty or 2 and scrums are always solid. I think Casey’s lineout consistency is a good substitute for this, with Cronin or strauss making an abrasive carrying impact from the bench in the end game.
I’d like to have seen Casey get a run-out, but against Georgia…
South Africa are one of the top two teams in the world, possibly the best. They almost certainly have the best pack in the world.
If at all avoidable, it’s not a match where I’d be giving a forward player a debut.
True, but they don’t come much more grizzly than Georgia, none of us have forgotten 2007. If you’re going to ease someone in, it may as well be against Australia!
Racing pay his bills, so I’d say they have first dibs on his services, and rightly so.
No one is saying they shouldn’t are they though