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Andy Farrell insists injured Ireland trio will be fit for World Cup
Andy Farrell insists injured Ireland trio Jack Conan, Dave Kilcoyne and Ronan Kelleher will definitely be fit for the World Cup.
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Back-rower Conan suffered a foot problem in his country’s 33-17 win over Italy on August 5, while prop Kilcoyne and hooker Kelleher have minor hamstring issues.
They will each miss Saturday’s clash with England in Dublin and are also expected to sit out Ireland’s final warm-up match against Samoa next weekend.
Yet head coach Farrell is confident the trio will be available for his side’s World Cup opener against Romania on September 9 in Bordeaux.
“Jack is still ongoing,” said Farrell. “Him, David Kilcoyne and Ronan Kelleher, they’re not long-term.
“Whether they’re going to be fit for next week for the final warm-up against Samoa, probably not.
“Will they be fit for the start of the World Cup and available for selection? Definitely, yes.”
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Farrell on Wednesday cut his preliminary squad down to 38 players by releasing Gavin Coombes, Calvin Nash, Caolin Blade, Kieran Treadwell and Jamie Osborne after adding Jeremy Loughman as cover for Kilcoyne.
He is due to name his final 33-man selection on August 28.
Having completely changed his starting XV for the visit of Steve Borthwick’s side, only suspended captain Johnny Sexton and the sidelined Kelleher will not have seen warm-up action before the tournament.
Farrell’s strong team for the weekend includes a first Test start for Connacht “warrior” Cian Prendergast, who went on last year’s tour of New Zealand and has been picked at number eight.
“I just see improvement all the time,” he said of the 23-year-old.
“He came to New Zealand with us very raw, came back into Connacht and, to be fair, he’s always been a standout performer for Connacht, just because of his fight, his energy, he’s a warrior of a type of player.
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“He’s fit, tough but there’s all sorts of his game that he needs to tidy up and over the last eight weeks we’ve seen that in abundance so I’m excited to see him play at the weekend.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
4
Draws
0
Wins
1
Average Points scored
29
16
First try wins
80%
Home team wins
80%
“His feel in and around the game has improved, not just decision-making with ball in hand, which has made his skill level a lot better, but also his decision-making defensively.
“He’s always been one to chase absolutely everything. His discipline has been something we’ve needed to talk about from time to time but his all-round game is getting more balance.
“I’m sure it’s not going to be perfect at the weekend but I’m excited to see him play.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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