Full-back a key area after injury to Kearney
ROB KEARNEY is being ‘further assessed’ by IRFU medics this week with a view to being available for Ireland’s clash with Argentina in Dublin on Saturday week.
Kearney had to be substituted just after half-time in last weekend’s win away to Treviso following a heavy bang to the shoulder and he did not travel with the 26-man Ireland squad that left for Chicago on Monday ahead of Saturday’s Test with Italy.
The 32-year-old has been the goto selection at full-back since Joe Schmidt took over as Ireland head coach in 2013 but, although regular understudy Simon Zebo is out of the loop since leaving Munster to join Racing 92 in the Top14, Jordan Larmour and Andrew Conway (both in the squad for Italy) are options at 15 if Kearney fails to recover.
Another potential option is the uncapped Will Addison, who spent most of his time with Sale at 15, but has been excelling at outside centre since joining Ulster at the start of the season.
If Kearney’s injury does affect his participation next month, one intriguing replacement could be Keith Earls. The Limerickman, who was not brought to Chicago, has starred on the wing under Schmidt, but won his first cap at full-back 10 years ago and played arguably his finest game for Ireland at 15 when Declan Kidney’s men denied England a Grand Slam in Dublin in 2011.
Kieran Marmion is another who did not travel to Chicago with Ireland, Schmidt selecting John Cooney and Luke McGrath as his two scrum-halves as Conor Murray continues to recover from this neck injury. Marmion has won all his 22 caps under Schmidt as back-up to Murray and has been released to play for Connacht in their Pro14 clash at home to the Dragons as Ireland seek to get him up to speed for internationals against Argentina, New Zealand and the US.
Marmion has featured in six games for Connacht this season but has only amassed 225 minutes in total, missing both the province’s Challenge Cup games against Bordeaux and Sale.
Sam Arnold and John Ryan are part of Munster’s 27-man squad that travelled to South Africa ahead of Sunday’s Pro14 clash with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Centre Arnold and tighthead prop Ryan were both named in Ireland’s 42-man squad for next month’s internationals but, given their presence in South Africa and the recovery issues from that journey, they may not feature until the final Test against the United States on November 24.
Ireland qualified Kiwi out-half Tyler Bleyendaal is included in Munster’s touring party and may feature against the Cheetahs having recovered from his long-term neck injury. Bleyendaal featured for Munster A in the Celtic Cup earlier this month and his return to fitness would deepen Schmidt’s options at 10, joining the likes of Billy Burns, Jack Carty and Ian Keatley behind November squad selections Johnny Sexton, Joey Carbery and Ross Byrne.
From a situation where cover for Sexton was a major concern a few seasons ago, Ireland are now well served at out-half across the provinces as the pathway planning of IRFU performance director David Nucifora begins to pay dividends.
Leinster have announced that Ireland winger Fergus McFadden will be out of action for four months having undergone surgery on a hamstring issue picked up two weeks ago ahead of the Champions Cup clash with Toulouse. Leo Cullen’s men travel to South Africa today ahead of Sunday’s meeting with the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.
Ulster are away to Treviso on Saturday with doubts over back three players Craig Gilroy (back), Robert Baloucoune (groin) and Michael Lowry (quad), with all three picking up knocks in last weekend’s win over Dragons.