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Ireland forced to replace two forwards as injury crisis deepens
By Ian Cameron
Andy Farrell’s Ireland preparations for the Guinness Men’s Six Nations have been disrupted by a fresh injury setback, with changes confirmed as the squad assembled at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Sunday.
It’s been confirmed that prop Jack Boyle suffered a leg injury during Leinster’s win over Connacht and will miss the pre-tournament camp in Portugal, with uncapped twenty-year-old Connacht prop Billy Bohan called up.
Boyle collapsed in pain following a scrum in the 19th minute of Leinster’s win over Connacht at the refurbished Dexcom Stadium in Galway on Saturday evening. He was carted off shortly after in clear discomfort.
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It’s thrown Ireland’s loosehead prop stocks into a major injury crisis, with both Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy already out of action through injury. It could mean Ireland are forced to start a fourth-choice loosehead against France in Paris on February 5.
As it stands, looseheads in the Ireland squad include Jeremy Loughman, Michael Milne and aforementioned Bohan.
The second row has been hit too. Munster’s Tom Ahern has been replaced by Cormac Izuchukwu, while Farrell is also monitoring Ulster winger Robert Baloucoune after he was withdrawn at half-time for Ulster against the Scarlets. Baloucoune has been beset by injuries in the past and it seems his terrible luck with fitness could once again curtail his burgeoning Test career.
An IRFU statement reads: “The Ireland squad assembled in the IRFU High Performance Centre on Sunday as preparations begin for the Guinness Men’s Six Nations.
“There are several enforced changes to the travelling party ahead of the pre-tournament training camp in Portugal.
“Jack Boyle sustained a leg injury during Leinster’s victory over Connacht and Connacht’s uncapped prop Billy Bohan will join the training camp in Portugal.
“Tom Ahern is replaced by Cormac Izuchukwu, while Robert Baloucoune will continue to be assessed over the coming days after being withdrawn at half-time in Ulster’s defeat away to Scarlets.”
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