Ireland team manager Mick Kearney has presented an upbeat appraisal of injury concerns ahead of Saturday's Six Nations match against Wales at the Millennium stadium.
Jonathan Sexton (hamstring), Jamie Heaslip (injured vertebrae), Sean O'Brien (concussion) and Jared Payne (concussion) will all train this week and are expected to be available for selection, although the nature of the various ailments can only be fully tested in a contact environment.
Sexton didn’t play for Racing Metro 92 in their Top 14 match last weekend, instead receiving treatment for the hamstring strain he picked up in the victory over England that led to his replacement in the second half.
Kearney explained: “Jonathan Sexton continues to improve following a mild hamstring strain. As a precaution, he will have modified training in the early part of the week with an expectation that he will train fully towards the end of the week. We’re very happy with where he is at the moment. He’s hit all his markers so far.
“Jamie Heaslip is expected to train fully this week and, barring any setback, will be available for selection.” Heaslip, who missed the English match, took his first contact session on Monday afternoon.
Progressed well
The Ireland team manager continued: “Sean O’Brien and Jared Payne have progressed well from the return to play protocol and will be reintroduced to full training during the week.
“In Ulster last Thursday they went through some non-contact drills, in the early part of this week they’re going to finish that off and they’ll train fully towards the end of the week. The info I’ve got from the medical team is that they’ve completed the protocols fully to date and will complete the last part of them early in the week and then they’ll train fully.”
Kearney confirmed that the reason that the pair were still in the midst of their return to play protocols was because the players not released for provincial duty last weekend were given three days off.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt announced a 36-man squad for Ireland's last two games in the tournament against Wales and Scotland, the latter match on Saturday week in Edinburgh. Some notable absentees, apart from injured players, were the 81 times capped, Leinster centre Gordon D'Arcy, Rhys Ruddock, Craig Gilroy and Dave Kilcoyne.
Kearney confirmed that D’Arcy’s omission was a selection issue but added: “Gordon has obviously been an unbelievable servant for Irish rugby. He’s back fit. He’s back playing for Leinster again. I wouldn’t rule him out for future consideration.”
Succession stakes
When asked about the succession stakes based on players in the squad if Robbie Henshaw were to sustain an injury, Kearney said: “Darren Cave played against Argentina at inside centre,” while also acknowledging that Ian Madigan could play there too.
Ruddock and Kilcoyne were involved in the November internationals but have only recently returned from injury while Gilroy has been in excellent form of late for Ulster.
Kearney confirmed that Ireland will wait until the 7.0pm deadline on Thursday before making a decision on whether they will request that the Millennium Stadium roof be open or closed for the game. They will base that call on the projected weather forecast.
If conditions are due to be good they would have a preference for it to remain open.
