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Ireland explain 'freak' James Ryan injury, excluding Garry Ringrose
Andy Farrell has revealed how a “freak” training ground injury on Wednesday ruled James Ryan out of the Ireland selection for this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations game away to England.
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A round two starter versus Italy, the lock provided bench cover behind Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne in the wins over France and Wales and was expected to again be a replacement in London.
However, that plan was scuppered in midweek and Ryan’s place has now gone to the fit-again Iain Henderson.
That alteration is one of three changes to the Ireland bench outside of the selection of the fit-again Hugo Keenen to start at full-back in place of the deputising Ciaran Frawley.
Asked why Ryan was absent from the Ireland match day 23 teamsheet, Farrell explained: “He’s injured. He got injured yesterday in training.
“Just a freak accident really of just a reaction reaching out for a tackle that was non-contact and he has injured his bicep so he most likely, well he won’t be available for the remainder of this Six Nations.”
Switching to the return of Keenan, who had been battling a knee injury sustained on February 11 versus Italy, Farrell welcomed the No15 back with open arms. “It would be a boost for any side in world rugby,” he enthused.
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“He is a world-class full-back, isn’t he? It is a testament to him – and it’s no shock to us – that he has been able to get himself back to this position to be involved this weekend as he has been unbelievably diligent over the last few weeks to make that happen.”
While there was good selection news for Keenan, the outlook was different for Garry Ringrose. A first-choice midfielder at the Rugby World Cup, he is finally over the shoulder injury that kept him sidelined from the Six Nations action in February.
Despite training fully this week, he has been unable to get into the midfield in place of either Robbie Henshaw or Bundee Aki. “He’s fit and he’s well. He has trained all week. He has done all the contact work necessary to be available.
“It’s just circumstances. Garry knows exactly that. I had a chat with him yesterday and he was smiling actually in the fact that it is just circumstances.
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“He knows what I think about him as a rugby player and his comments to me was that he has been on the good side of circumstances so many times as a player as well. So he understands.”
With Frawley, the full-back versus Wales, named as this Saturday’s 23rd man, Stuart McCloskey missed out on a bench that has a six/two forwards/backs split. Aside from Henderson replacing Ryan, the other change to the reserve forwards sees Finlay Bealham take over from Oli Jager.
“Oli has got a bit of a niggle with his knee,” said Farell. “He played his first Test obviously (against Wales) and that was a big week for him. Finlay is unbelievably experienced and done really well for us in the past and he is really keen to get out there and show what he has got at Twickenham.”
Quizzed on his decision to stick with the six/two bench split, Farrell added: “It’s a bit of everything really, it’s where the squad’s at, where the individuals within the squad are at, and what benefits us against the opponent but more importantly for what is best for Ireland.
“We take each game on merit, who’s fit and who’s not because the whole time you guys see a fit squad on paper.
“But there is always something going on in the background with niggles or game time or who needs looking after or everyone could be 100 per cent fit and raring to go. That’s not always the case so you take each week, each day as it comes.”
Andy Farrell explains his recall of Hugo Keenan, the non-selection of Garry Ringrose, and the "freak" training ground injury sustained by the absent James Ryan, with Liam Heagney ?? #ENGvIRE #GuinnessM6N #IrelandRugby #rugby pic.twitter.com/R0SBBPNOtx
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 7, 2024
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.
5 Go to comments