Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IRELAND SWEAT OVER KEARNEY AND O’MAHONY
PETER O’MAHONY and Rob Kearney are Joe Schmidt’s main concerns as he prepares for Ireland’s Grand Slam bid. They sat out training at Carton House yesterday and with the players off today, they will have to take a full part in tomorrow’s session to start at Twickenham.
It is expected that both will make it while Johnny Sexton has been given the green light after training fully yesterday. Kearney “got caught a little bit on his ankle,” said Ireland assistant boss Richie Murphy who added: “The medics have looked at him, they’re very happy with where he’s at.”
O’mahony was treated in
the 42nd minute of Saturday’s win over Scotland with what appeared to be a shoulder problem and jogged off 13 minutes later.
Murphy said: “Peter is OK, everyone who played in the game on Saturday will be fit and ready to play this weekend. He’s the same as Rob Kearney.” If the experienced duo are fit, the only selection problem likely to face Schmidt is whether to include Ulster second row Iain Henderson from the start at the expense of Devin Toner.
Sexton is “100%” right now, according to Murphy, after he took a knee in the glute against Wales and his training was managed last week.
“He trained fully today and kicked after the session,” said Murphy. “I’m meeting him at 10.30 in the morning at the Aviva and he’s going to kick again. He’s in a good place.”