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InternationalIreland

Ireland the latest team to suffer eve-of-match Covid disruption

(Photo by PA)

Ireland preparations ahead of Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series meeting with the All Blacks in Dublin have been disrupted by the need for additional testing after an unnamed player tested positive for Covid on the eve of the sold-out match in Dublin.

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Andy Farrell named a team on Thursday that contained just a single change from the XV that comprehensively defeated Japan in last Saturday’s series opener, Iain Henderson replacing the benched Tadhg Beirne as the starting lock alongside James Ryan.  

However, Farrell has now been plunged into a waiting game ahead of facing the All Blacks after the Irish bubble was seemingly breached by Covid. A Friday lunchtime statement from the IRFU read: “A potential positive case has been identified in one person via the latest PCR testing carried out on the Ireland squad. Additional testing is being undertaken to establish if this is a false positive.

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“The entire Ireland squad and management have undergone additional lateral flow and PCR testing today [Friday]. The lateral flow testing returned no positives and the PCR results are expected later today.

“Further updates will follow later. As a precaution, today’s planned captain’s run media briefing will be switched from in-person to virtual.”

The developing situation meant that Ireland became the latest team to suffer an eve-of-match disruption over Covid. It was last Friday when skipper Owen Farrell was pulled from the England team to face Tonga following a test result that was eventually proven to be a false positive. 

Eddie Jones’ squad suffered another setback this Friday as a positive test for Ellie Genge ruled the vice-captain out from playing against the Wallabies and it has resulted in the promotion from the bench into the No1 jersey of Bevan Rodd, an uncapped 21-year-old who will be covered on the England bench by Trevor Davison, another rookie who has just a single cap to his credit. 

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 11 minutes ago
Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

It has worked out great for NZR and RA as well, what are you talking about?

26 Go to comments
J
JW 12 minutes ago
Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

I haven’t heard anything from Rassie but my idea was that he was impressed by how well Japan stretched his team with similar small guys like he has. He probably wasn’t even aware of Tony’s situation before he reached out.

Yeah partial might be fair as it was a pretty doctrined process of succession planning, and perhaps were that fell down was not moving onto Razor in 2022 (he would have loved to talk to Tony) and having two years with him, or even jettisoning him wasn’t going to follow in others footsteps like everyone else did.



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26 Go to comments
N
NB 16 minutes ago
Should Fabien Galthie take the hint from UBB's bullfighters?

Speed reading is not a luxury GVF, it’s essential!🤣

81 Go to comments
N
NB 16 minutes ago
Should Fabien Galthie take the hint from UBB's bullfighters?

Thanks Carlos - yes! We want to stimulate a lively and respectful debate, and ppl from all points of view are arriving with theire thoughts!

81 Go to comments
N
NB 18 minutes ago
Should Fabien Galthie take the hint from UBB's bullfighters?

As in my post to YM above, it is about attacking and defensive efficiency in contact.

- South Africa had 20% more dominant carries than France: 47% to 27%



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81 Go to comments
R
Ric 26 minutes ago
Donaldson: What James O’Connor does better than other Wallabies 10s

I do love the KOKO show… incisive (most of the time), funny, and keeps current info… the biggest problem I have is that I am pretty deaf… I miss a lot of what the chaps talk about and wish that I could follow the point they are making… I find that frustrating…

The solution is running a Captions System for those of us who really want to understand what the boys are talking about. so that I can write back to them and make my point…



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2 Go to comments
N
NB 29 minutes ago
Should Fabien Galthie take the hint from UBB's bullfighters?

Great post and agreed on all points!

81 Go to comments
J
JW 30 minutes ago
Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

LOL I don’t think that’s the idea of conspiracy, isn’t it more about how you draw your conclusions? Those theories could be right even if the conclusions weren’t

26 Go to comments
G
Graeme Hayward 30 minutes ago
'Beatable' Boks not the most dominant team ever: Jeremy Guscott

If you cast the same critical eye over England, then it has to be said that they are nowhere. They’ve improved but are yet to achieve anything. A single good win only shows promise & a lot can happen in a year…

67 Go to comments
N
NB 30 minutes ago
Should Fabien Galthie take the hint from UBB's bullfighters?

Thanks for a good comment. Yes you are right, the Boks do not tend to build rucks or keep the ball for the sake of it. But in terms of winning battles in contact they tend to win, on attack and defence.

One of the interesting facts to emerge from the France-SA game was that although France carried 13 times more, they achieved a more modest % or successful gain-line carry - 54% to the Boks 67%. So that means the Boks always more controlled of the tackle area than France, which is mainly determined by the forwards.



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81 Go to comments
N
NB 38 minutes ago
Should Fabien Galthie take the hint from UBB's bullfighters?

One of the best FB’s in the world and I’d start him ahead of Ramos every time were it not for Ramos’ GK ability!

81 Go to comments
J
JW 38 minutes ago
What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role

Right, the demographics have changed majorly, what I think you’re referring to is like the idea that you grow up from a young age doing a bit of everything.

A contestable kick is one of those core attributes you grow up with, in pretty much any position, and to be fair theyre still pretty good at it, it’s more the tactical side theyve not understood.



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49 Go to comments
N
NB 39 minutes ago
Should Fabien Galthie take the hint from UBB's bullfighters?

Coaches are always looking for ways to improve, and one way for France to do that is to become less 9-focused. It works in Top 14 for sure, at international level not so much!

You have the example right in front of you, in the shape of the Springboks this season. ‘Tony-ball’ means using the skills they have at 10 and 15 more often than they did.



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81 Go to comments
S
SB 40 minutes ago
'Beatable' Boks not the most dominant team ever: Jeremy Guscott

When you say they control the draw, have a look at England (who I am not a massive fan of at all) and their pathways in 2015 or 2019? If they are controlling it then why would that be the case? The SH teams do well because they are quality. As are the top NH ones.

I feel like this talk about NH powers control the draw has more so come from this recent one. Any of those top 6 sides could’ve landed anywhere, the format was clear.



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67 Go to comments
N
NB 42 minutes ago
Should Fabien Galthie take the hint from UBB's bullfighters?

Yes and that is the key difference at UBB Carlos. They play a lot more off 10 and 12 than most other Top 14 teams.

81 Go to comments
N
NB 44 minutes ago
Should Fabien Galthie take the hint from UBB's bullfighters?

Yes it’s important to consider the postiives of the game v SA for France. And I don’t mean false positives, like pretending they were doing okay for large parts of the game.

But acknowledging the rethinks in strategy and selection that need to be made to get to the next level of performance… That was the true gift SA gave France.



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81 Go to comments
N
NB 50 minutes ago
Should Fabien Galthie take the hint from UBB's bullfighters?

Yes there’s no need to drop Penaud. And ou are prob right about Dupont. At the same time, France showed they can play, and win without him at the last 6N. Lucu has become a great player in his own right.

81 Go to comments
S
SK 50 minutes ago
Should Fabien Galthie take the hint from UBB's bullfighters?

UBB are a joy to watch. They do everything at speed. They kick for the corner constantly. They mercilessly put you under pressure throughout the game and they strive to dominate you in all aspects. Its like they start a game on a mission to score 50 points and they keep going until they get close or complete their mission. They combine the power of their forwards with flair from the backs and their skills are outstanding. Watching them against the bulls reminded me of NZ sides who used to come to Loftus and knock them over. The way they capitalise on turnover ball is special and they bring their wide players into the game beautifully. They always look to score from any situation. They are so fluent and crisp and Jalibert is crucial to them. Sure the Bulls arent exactly shooting out the lights at the moment and have several problems to work on but they are still exceedingly tough to beat down there so credit where its due. Galthie should take notes from this team. The way they play is outstanding.

81 Go to comments
G
GG 52 minutes ago
'Beatable' Boks not the most dominant team ever: Jeremy Guscott

SB, all good. It does for us in the SH always feel that WR and the NH powers control the draw for WC, always tinker with rules to suit their sides, decide which refs blow which games etc. with all that happening, still amazing that the SH do ok. But the new reality is that any of the top 6-8 sides can win on any given day, and we as lovers of rugger are the winners.

67 Go to comments
J
JW 55 minutes ago
Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

Oh right, my bad.

SRA was only a temporary solution though. SA and Argentina could not hold out that long, I think it unreasonable to ask them to do so. I think they did the right thing jumping ship as the earliest Super could have been played was 2023 (due to the inability to plan ahead with such a situation) unless they cancelled TRC, and well that wasn’t really an option.



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