The curse and the cure for Ireland

POST-MATCH REACTION: The news that star scrumhalf Conor Murray could make a surprise return to the Ireland team, has been tempered by the news of another major injury setback.

Ireland flank Sean O’Brien’s injury jinx struck again when he suffered a broken arm at the end of the first half of the Test against Argentina at the weekend.

The 31-year-old – one of the stand-out players of the British & Irish Lions’ one-all Test series draw with world champions New Zealand last year – went off with his face creased in agony and then sat on the sidelines for the second period in what was his first Test in almost a year.

“Sean’s broken his right arm,” Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt said in his post-match reaction.

“He’ll need surgery on that.”

Schmidt said later in his post-match press conference everyone was devastated for the player known as ‘The Tullow Tank’.

“He is gutted, I am gutted for him and so are the other players,” he said.

“He was just getting into his rhythm. I was talking to him after the game and he is already thinking of rehab and his big goal in a year’s time [the World Cup].

“I think I described him as stubborn on Thursday and that resilience and stubbornness gives him a chance of getting back and into the Six Nations [which begins next February].”

O’Brien, who Schmidt said brought “contagious enthusiasm” to the squad and praised his resilience in continually coming back, missed both the Six Nations Grand Slam campaign and the two-one Test series victory over Australia in June due to hip and shoulder injuries.

O’Brien is definitely out of the clash with New Zealand next Saturday, but Schmidt is blessed with talent in the back row.

However, he is hopeful centre Robbie Henshaw will be fit despite pulling up in the warm-up with a hamstring injury.

“Robbie, I’d be hopeful he will be ok but we have to just wait and see.”

* Meanwhile, Murray could make a surprise return to the Ireland team for the clash with world champions New Zealand next weekend, coach Joe Schmidt said on Saturday.

Murray has not played any competitive rugby this season due to a neck injury.

The decision lies in the hands of the 29-year-old, who has formed a world-class halfback partnership with Jonathan Sexton climaxing with the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year.

Kieran Marmion who stepped in for Murray for the 28-17 victory over Argentina on Saturday acquitted himself well, scoring their first try, but went off after rolling his ankle. Marmion’s replacement Luke McGrath also impressed in scoring a third try that finally killed off the Pumas.

Schmidt said the fact Murray hadn’t been included in the matchday squad despite returning to training a while ago was not down to his injury.

“It was to take the pressure off him,” Schmidt said.

“There is no compulsion for him to push himself forward and into the frame unless he is super comfortable.

“The three guys who we have had in the squad have done super jobs.

“However, Conor has an incredible capacity to give us the tempo and the pass that makes a world-class player,” he added.

Schmidt, whose side claimed a record 10th successive home, said he would chat to Murray to work out if he felt in a good enough place to come back for a match that pitches the two top-ranked teams in the world against each other.

“It’s not the injury, it is really how he is and how fit he is,” said the 53-year-old New Zealander.

“The injury itself has gone really well it is tough to throw him back into a match of this intensity.

“It is highly unlikely he will be involved but I will speak to him about it.”

Schmidt said his side would be up for the challenge of the All Blacks after a serious workout against the Argentinians.
– ‘I am still bleeding’ –

Schmidt has tasted success against his native country with a historic win for Ireland in Chicago and also defeat with two narrow losses either side of that result in 2016.

“It is so little to do with me, I step back on a Thursday it is really player driven,” he said.

“I would be delighted if we are as competitive as we were the last three times.

“In those three games, it was 2013 I am still bleeding from. It hurts when it happens while Chicago was a full bandage.

“We stepped up the last time they were in town, the challenge is for them to step up and I am confident they can and they are well aware of the challenge they present.”

Schmidt, who will announce before the end of the year whether he will stay on after the 2019 World Cup when his present contract comes to an end, doesn’t believe the fact both New Zealand and Ireland were pushed hard on Saturday will impact on their match.

“I don’t think it really spills over into the narrative,” he said.

“Neither of us will be especially influenced by the match this past weekend.

“They will say they were 0-15 down [against England] and didn’t start well but came back and they will see we also didn’t begin well but also fought back.

“The All Blacks will first look at themselves and build themselves going forward,” he added.

AFP