His suspension deals another blow to Ireland’s severely depleted ranks having lost captain Paul O’Connell and another outstanding flanker Peter O’Mahony to injuries suffered in the brutal 24-9 victory over France on Sunday.
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“In the context of the Rugby World Cup tournament a week equates to one match”.
Citing the success of South Africa two decades ago, Ireland is drawing on what it calls the unifying power of rugby to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup for the first time. “It’s realistic to think we’ll go further than we have before”. “It’s just at this stage we want to do the best thing so we can have everyone fit and available”.
The Carlow man was banned for one match after being found guilty of striking Pascal Pape with an initial two week ban reduced due to his good disciplinary record.
The Irish Rugby Football Union paid tribute to the 35-year-old O’Connell as “a leader, a warrior, and a gentleman” as they announced that he would undergo surgery this week.
“You do have not to be a great side to lift the Webb Ellis trophy but you do have to be highly efficient: merciless in defence, ruthless in accumulating points, on-song and on-message throughout the tournament”, Cleary wrote.
‘It’s a very big challenge for us to play against a team that is like that, but it’s special because of the past.
The back three options Schmidt has should be adequate for the Argentina game at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Sunday-a match which if the Irish win will see them reach the semi-finals for the first time.
The Argentina Rugby Union has warned that players who are not part of the Buenos Aires team entering the southern hemisphere’s Super Rugby championship in 2016 will not be considered for Los Pumas.
Ireland may gamble on the fitness of fly-half Johnny Sexton for their World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.
That option was still not being pursued, Feek said, despite utility back Keith Earls also picking up a knock in the France game, during which he played outside centre, and sitting out yesterday’s training.
It is the high expectation of the Northern Hemisphere side that makes their injury toll all the more painful.
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Given the importance of the game, which kicks off at 1pm on Sunday, Irish fans will likely take any floor or couch they can get, considering most of the hotels and B&Bs in the city are already booked out.
