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Ireland's Addison faces World Cup fight after back surgery

Ulster's Will Addison has been called into the Ireland RWC training squad (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Will Addison has been forced to go under the knife for a back injury that he picked up while training with Ireland during the Six Nations.

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It’s left him battling to stake a claim to make Ireland’s squad for the World Cup later this year. Addison, a former England Under 20’s international, left Sale last summer to join Ulster to pursue his international ambitions.

In a statement Ulster said “Will Addison has had recent back surgery. It is hoped that he will return to full fitness for pre-season.”

Addison will be in a race against time to be fit for Ireland’s first World Cup warm-up match is against Italy on August 10th at the Aviva. Ireland then travel to Twickenham to take on England two weeks later.

Joe Schmidt’s team then have back-to-back games against Six Nations champions Wales in Cardiff on August 31st, completing their warm-up fixtures by taking on Warren Gatland’s men in Dublin on September 7th.

Ireland begin their World Cup campaign on September 22nd in Yokohama with their Pool A clash against Scotland.

Addison was a player that Joe Schmidt had been lining up for some time and he was invited out to link up with the Ireland squad last June during their tour of Australia, before he’d even made an appearance for Ulster.

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Addison made his debut during the November internationals against Italy in Chicago followed by outings against Argentina and the USA in Dublin.

He’s a versatile option, comfortable at centre and full-back and has played on the wing.

Ulster also confirmed that their centre Stuart McCloskey picked up a head knock in their 30-7 defeat at Glasgow Warriors last Friday.

“Stuart McCloskey sustained a concussion in the game versus Glasgow Warriors and will follow the return to play protocols.

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J
Jfp123 4 hours ago
Are Bordeaux-Begles, not Toulouse, the future of French rugby?

Really, do you really mean that? I guess you’re a supporter of UBB. Jalibert

1) doesn’t play well with France’s best 9

2) has an approx 50% tackle success rate this year at int. and club level, Rassie would be rubbing his hands with glee as he plots to exploit that!

3) is another player his teammates would have to cover for in defence, when they already have Penaud, and arguably, Ramos under the high ball, to cope with, unless you’re proposing to drop Penaud. Whereas in attack France were scoring with or without him in the last 6 nations, 200 points when he wasn’t on the pitch so why do they need him?

3) plays at 10 only, so rules out the v successful 7/1 bench when he’s playing

4) has a questionable temperament, see WC 1/4 final

5) has a v poor record in a great team at int. level. In his last 5 matches, loss v SA, heavy loss v Ireland, win by highly controversial try v Scotland, draw v Italy, loss v England.


Whereas Ntamack and Ramos both play fabulously with Dupont and Ntamack adapted seamlessly when Lucu took over from Dupont v Ireland; Ntamack has a v high tackle success rate, tackles more often and jackals; Ntamack 10 and 12 internationally, Ramos 10 and 15 - both have played with 7/1 bench; both Ntamack and Ramos superb big match temperament, scoring when it counts; France has been flying high when they’re playing.


If Jalibert played for a nation struggling to score with a strong defence, he might be worth a pick, but he plays for France.

Also, lately I’m wondering if he’s quite so effective in attack as some people seem to believe. He is certainly good and has the flashy moves, but look at the Top14 stats, they suggest his game management isn’t quite what it should be. If I’m picking a fantasy team I sink my money on the wings, as they score most. Jalibert is playing with the two top wings in France, arguably the world, his scrum half is France’s best with Dupont injured for most of the season, the other backs and the forwards are all top class, but that isn’t reflected in the stats. Points for ST 891, UBB 762; Points ag ST 462, UBB 609; points diff 429 v 153, and that’s when for much of the season, the ST player in the crucial 9 position, with the best will in the world is pretty average, and can’t be rated among the top 6 in the Top14.


If Galthier picks Jalibert again, I’ll know his head’s fallen off! Allez les blues!

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