1
Rob Kearney is Ireland's latest injury blow
By Online Editors
Ireland's injury crisis has continued with Rob Kearney the latest player to emerge as a major doubt for Sunday's Pool A opening clash against Scotland.
The veteran full-back is believed to be struggling with a calf problem sustained in training earlier today.
He is now a major doubt for the Scotland game, and the clash with Japan six days later, according to The Irish Times.
Kearney's setback comes on the back of the news that Ireland are also expected to be without Robbie Henshaw, who is suffering with a hamstring injury.
While Ireland are well stocked with options in the centre, with Bundee Aki, Chris Farrell and Garry Ringrose all fit and available, Kearney's absence would represent a major blow for Joe Schmidt.
Jordan Larmour is the most likely to start in Kearney's place, but has endured some difficult outings at fullback. More recently, Schmidt has tended to use Larmour on the wing.
Munster's Andrew Conway is another option, but has rarely played in the position for Ireland.
Schmidt played Henshaw at full-back during the Six Nations defeat to England earlier this year as he looked to boost his options in the position, but the experiment was abandoned after the Leinster played endured a difficult outing.
Ireland are expected to provide an update on Kearney's fitness early tomorrow morning.
There are also doubts surrounding the fitness of Keith Earls and Joey Carbery.
Earls limped off the pitch in Ireland's final warm-up game against Wales and has yet to train fully in Japan. Joey Carbery, who has been sidelined since the opening warm-up game against Italy, is expected to train fully later this week as he continues his recovery from an ankle problem.
The Rugby Pod on Ireland's chances in Japan
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Fissler Confidential: Radwan eyed to replace exit-bound England wing
3
Stormers hand Leinster second humbling in a row
4
'Helped me out': Danny Care's take on avoiding 'stonewall' sending off
5
Latest Comments
You forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time.
Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
Go to comments