Ireland sweating over injured stars
TEAM UPDATE: Ireland coach Andy Farrell retained 25 players for the two-day mini-camp at the team’s high-performance centre later this week.
The remainder of the squad has returned to their provinces to play in this weekend’s United Rugby Championship fixtures.
Title-chasing Ireland tops the championship table after two rounds.
Tadhg Beirne will see a specialist to determine the treatment plan for the leg injury that saw him leave the game early in Ireland’s 32-19 win over France in Dublin at the weekend.
The British and Irish Lion Beirne departed the stadium on crutches.
Rob Herring will proceed through the Return to Play protocols, while captain Johnny Sexton’s groin will be managed this week.
Coach Andy Farrell said, following the game, that the injury “did not look great” for the Munster man, who has started his country’s last 14 Tests.
Dan Sheehan will continue his hamstring rehab under the supervision of the Ireland medical team.
Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong, Robbie Henshaw and Jamison Gibson Park will continue their respective rehab programmes.
The Ireland squad will train with Richie Murphy’s Ireland Under-20 team later in the week.
Both squads are unbeaten to date in their respective Championship campaigns.
The players released to their provinces are Caolin Blade (Connacht), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Keith Earls (Munster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Michael Milne (Leinster), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Roman Salanoa (Munster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).
Ireland squad: Bundee Aki, Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Ross Byrne, Craig Casey, Jack Conan, Jack Crowley, Caelan Doris, Mack Hansen, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Hugo Keenan, Ronan Kelleher, James Lowe, Dave Kilcoyne, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, Garry Ringrose, James Ryan, Johnny Sexton (captain), Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier.
