CENTRE STAGE
Farrell returns to boost Irish but Henderson faces citing hearing after Ulster incident
CHRIS FARRELL and Tadhg Beirne have rejoined the Ireland squad ahead of Sunday’s Six Nations clash with Italy.
But Kieran Marmion will remain with Connacht this week which means John Cooney will be set for more game time at scrum-half in Rome.
And while Rhys Ruddock could yet play some part in the championship as he recovers from what Leinster describe as a “slight” hamstring strain, it is still unknown when fellow flanker Dan Leavy will be available to Joe Schmidt as he continues to rehab a calf problem. Leavy hasn’t played since just before Christmas.
Munster centre Farrell suffered a blow to the knee in the province’s PRO14 victory over Southern Kings last Saturday.
“We must wait to see what the national medical team have to say but we are hopeful he should be fit for Sunday if selected”, said Munster head coach Johann van Graan yesterday.
“It’s to Chris’ favour that he actually ran off the pitch on Friday night.”
As Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw were both unavailable, Farrell started in the win over Scotland the previous weekend.
But Schmidt will be hopeful that both Leinster centres will be ready to face the Azzurri as Ireland got their hopes back on track at Murrayfield.
Meanwhile, Beirne also travelled to the Ireland camp at Carton House yesterday and is hopeful of his first Six Nations involvement.
The former Scarlets star has recovered from the knee injury that has left him sidelined since he limped off in the Champions Cup win over Exeter a month ago.
There is doubt over Iain Henderson’s participation despite his Ulster comeback away to Opsreys on Friday night after thumb and finger injuries.
The second row will face a PRO14 independent disciplinary committee in Edinburgh by video link today after he was cited for an alleged incident in Ulster’s PRO14 victory over Ospreys on Friday.
He was cited for a 15th minute incident at a ruck involving Ospreys flanker Sam Cross in the clash at Brewery Field and he could be hit by a suspension.
“The player has been reported by the Citing Commissioner in charge for alleged infringement of Law 9.11 – Players must not do anything that is dangerous to others,” read a PRO14 statement.
CJ Stander, inset, however, is again not expected to be involved having missed the Scotland fixture with a facial injury he sustained in the opening day defeat to England.
Jack Conan is expected to remain at No8 against the Italians, who have lost their first couple of games. A further trio of Munster players – Andrew Conway, John Ryan and Niall Scannell – have also returned to Carton House after playing in the Reds’ comprehensive victory in Cork last Friday.
But Marmion, who was Ireland’s starting No9 in their win over the All Blacks in November, has revealed he is to stay with
Connacht for their
PRO14 encounter with
Glasgow
Warriors this week.
Marmion made his comeback last weekend in the win over the Cheetahs after undergoing ankle surgery in November.
He told Sportsjoe.ie: “I’ll probably get a bit of game-time with Connacht and, I guess, I’ve got to put in some good performances to get back in there (with Ireland).
“This weekend, I’ll be looking to get more minutes under my belt and see how that goes. Hopefully, if I can perform well then I can put my hand up to get back in there.” Marmion added: “It was good to get back, good to get 25 minutes under the belt and great to get back out on the pitch.
“The lungs were a bit sore afterwards but I was kind of expecting that.
“Connacht have Glasgow up next and the next few games will be key in terms of where we end up this season.
“It’s a big block for us. We’re away to Glasgow and that is a game we’ll target. They’ll be missing a good portion of their squad to the Six Nations and that is a game we lost by just a point last season.”