Hopefully they are all fit for the France game. These injuries aren't a huge concern for the Wales game because we have adequate replacements but against France the loss of Doris and Furlong would be magnified.
I'd be completely unconcerned for the Wales game, and hopefully Doris and Kelleher will indeed be fit for France.
But what is the situation with Furlong? He was in a race to be fit for mid-January, then for the start of the 6N, now week to week being ruled out. Whats going on with him?
Calf issue apparently. He was in line to start vs England and then apparently the calf went again.
It's a really difficult one I think, especially for a man of his size and the force he would put through the muscle. I'd suspect he will have issues with it for the rest of his career.
Strange to say but we are not missing Furlong and there's an argument to be made for Beahlam keeping the jersey regardless
Doris looked grand at the end of the Scot game.
Richie cleaned him out of a ruck from, eh 'up under his arse'.
Maybe things haven't yet returned to fully functioning order.
He's a must start if Ireland are to beat France.
How many players does Ireland need to beat Wales? 12? 🤔
If i could Thank this post I wouldn't.
Since Joe Molloy left they are in (hyper) desperation click mode. From here on in they should be ignored.
Looks like we're returning to Soldier Field - https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2025/0218/1497487-ireland-to-face-all-blacks-in-soldier-field-rematch/
AIs confirmed
Big chance to sweep the SANZAR lads
Or a chance to plummet down the rankings right before the RWC draw.
Would be nice to get a decent route to a WC semi/final.
There are 6 groups in RWC 2027. We'd have to be 7th in the rankings to be in pot 2.
Good to see them all one a Sat & none of this Fri nite nonsense
For those of outside of the M50 that is 😁
It doesn't matter whether we're number 1 or 10. We always get a **** draw one way or another
Now THAT'S hubris.
God knows what state the Irish members of the Lions squad will come back in, and we will have by far the largest contingent. There could be several still making a come back from injury by November.
Japan at Saturday lunch time is fairly crap.
They will really struggle to sell that one unless they make it really cheap.
Price it right & it would be a good family day out, it's been done in croker for last 16 CC games.
Leave the SA game for beers then 😉
Haven't heard much news the last few days.
Are Doris, Kelleher, Hansen, Furlong, Henderson likely to be available for the French?
Doris is unreplaceable, the others we have very able replacements.
it is Wales 2025, we should beat them with 15 players.
#otb
Only Doris and Kelleher matter really. We've become used to playing and winning without Furlong, Hansen is in dogsh1t form right now, and Henderson is a liability at this stage.
I understand who's important, it's the length out with injury I'd like to know.
Hadn't thought of that. Kinda hate the Lions tbh. Too often ruins the following season for the dominant team with wear and tear on the best players
Would love to see Izzy start at 6, the exposure and carrot of potentially being a regular in match day squads could really bring him on. For all his uniqueness, I don't think Baird is the answer at 6.
I'd also start JoeMc. He surely needs fitness, 55 mins hard work would be great for him. He should be on the bench for the France game but with the potential for him to have to come on early, he needs a blow out.
I assume we'll see a Henshaw/Ringrose midfield. Two other combinations were tried in the first two games so I assume Easterby is testing them all before settling on one for France.
Every time the Lions comes around it becomes increasingly less relevant than the previous tours. The volume of rugby played, evolution of club competitions, and frequency that major test nations play eachother has rendered it close to pointless for me. If the tours weren't massive revenue generators the Unions involved would be calling time on them to protect their players and build a better playing calendar.
Yeah hopefully they learn from the previous Japan game which was also on early, and not cheap
Lions tour is over on 2nd August and the Irish players will have very little rugby in the three months leading up to the NZ game, be grand.
It's a bit of a myth that players get injured more on the Lions tour.
I thought Gus McCarthy looked very good in the AI's so I wouldn't say Kelleher is that important.
Gus is exceptional and will be a massive part of Ireland in the future as he was in the Grand Slam 20’s where there is a treasure of talent now emerging to Senior levels. Kelleher is arguably the 2nd best hooker on the planet when in full form. He’s immensely powerful
2nd best on the planet??
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