Farrell calls in Irish reinforcements
IRELAND INJURY UPDATE: Andy Farrell has called up Connacht forward Dave Heffernan as injury cover as Ireland emerged from their Six Nations opener against Wales all but unscathed.
Ireland eased past the reigning champions 29-7, picking up where they left off in November with a comfortable victory in front of a packed Lansdowne Road.
Heffernan covers for Ulster hooker Rob Herring who is available for the Round 2 trip to Paris on account of a “calf issue”.
Other than Herring, Farrell will enjoy a relatively full deck of cards to choose from.
A statement from the IRFU reads: “Rob Herring is unavailable for selection this weekend with a calf issue and Dave Heffernan has joined the squad.
“Keith Earls will continue his hamstring rehab in Munster over the coming weeks and his progress will be assessed as the Championship progresses.
“Ulster trio Michael Lowry, Robert Baloucoune and Nick Timoney have re-joined the squad having featured for Ulster against Connacht in the URC on Friday.”
Ireland faces arguably their toughest assignment of the tournament when they face Fabien Galthie’s star-studded Les Bleus at the Stade de France next Saturday.
“We know how difficult it is to go to Paris,” said Farrell ahead of the daunting trip to France this coming weekend. “We are lucky, I suppose, to be on a winning run.
“You are always hungry to get off to a good start and we have managed to do that. We will lick our wounds and we will prepare properly for the French test.
“It is the test of all tests isn’t it, at this moment in time? Everyone knows how well they are playing.”
Ireland squad:
BACKS: Bundee Aki, Robert Baloucoune, Joey Carbery, Jack Carty, Craig Casey, Andrew Conway, Jamison Gibson Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, James Hume, Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, Michael Lowry, Conor Murray, Garry Ringrose, Johnny Sexton (captain).
FORWARDS: Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Gavin Coombes, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Dave Heffernan, Iain Henderson, Ronan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Peter O’Mahony, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Nick Timoney, Kieran Treadwell, Josh van der Flier.
By Ian Cameron, RugbyPass
