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Headache for Ireland as injury threatens Robbie Henshaw's World Cup just like it did in 2015

By Liam Heagney
Robbie Henshaw has been declared fit to start his first match for Ireland at the 2019 World Cup

Ireland’s World Cup ambitions have suffered a potentially grievous injury blow just over a week before they commence their campaign in Japan against Scotland. 

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RugbyPass understands that not only is Robbie Henshaw likely to miss the all-important clash versus the Scots in Yokohama on September 22, it is also possible that his participation in the entire tournament is under threat after he suffered a hamstring tear. 

Ireland flew out for the finals on Wednesday after Henshaw had seemingly proven his fitness with a fine performance in his first match of the season, last Saturday’s Dublin warm-up win over Wales. 

However, history is now set to repeat itself as it appears the centre will not be available to face the Scots in the 2019 opener similar to what happened in 2015 when he missed the opening two games of that tournament with another hamstring problem.

The 26-year-old eventually returned to start the remaining three games of that five-match campaign, featuring against Italy, France and in the quarter-final with Argentina, but there is now a concern that he might not even get on the field at any stage in Japan due to the severity of this particular hamstring issue.

 

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If Henshaw is unavailable to face the Scots, Ireland, who are currently based in Chiba until next Wednesday’s switch to Yokohama, would have to pair near ever-present No12 Bundee Aki with either Garry Ringrose or Chris Farrell.

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Aki partnered Ringrose in the humiliating warm-up defeat to England at Twickenham before linking up with Farrell the following weekend in the win over Wales in Cardiff. The New Zealand born centre then lined up alongside Henshaw last weekend in Dublin in a contest where that pairing looked the most impressive of the three that were used across the three games.

Will Addison would be seen as the favourite to be called up if Henshaw is ultimately ruled out of the tournament. He was due to play for Ulster in a friendly at Glasgow on Saturday but he was dropped to the bench shortly before kick-off and went unused.

Until Henshaw damaged his hamstring against Wales in what was only his second game for Ireland in 2019 (his first since the February loss to England), Joey Carbery had been Ireland’s only major injury concern leading into the must-win World Cup opener against the Scots.

The back-up out-half injured his ankle in the first warm-up match versus Italy on August 10. Keith Earls was injured last weekend against Wales but was cleared to travel to Japan.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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