VIDEO: Jon Walters again sits out training as the boys get down to business in France

Mikey Stafford

The Republic of Ireland arrived at their base in Versailles Wednesday evening and, after what we hope was a restful night in the Trianon Palace, got down to work on Thursday morning.

Martin O’Neill and his squad were granted a heroes’ welcome at Stade de Montbauron as they began preparations for Monday’s Group E opener against Sweden with an open training session in the French sunshine.

Welcome to Versailles! #COYBIG https://t.co/Gbu5ufvMgk

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) June 9, 2016

Merci, Versailles! #IRL #COYBIG https://t.co/pXQmoSOYWk

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) June 9, 2016

What seems to have been a sizable collection of schoolchildren were joined by the Irish press pack, who were trying to put some sense on the training game that took place.

A training game that took place without Jon Walters, we might add, as he continues rehab on his Achilles strain. Robbie Keane and James McCarthy trained as normal.

Jon Walters the only Irish player not training with the main group today

— Dion Fanning (@dionfanning) June 9, 2016

A familiar defensive grouping was jazzed up with a certain Blackburn powerhouse but, as SportsJOE chief sportswriter Dion Fanning notes, the inclusion of an absolute mainstay of the Irish team on the opposition side means we cannot read too much into the two teams pick by O’Neill.

Randolph, Coleman, Duffy, O'Shea and Brady making up a back five for some part of training today

— Dion Fanning (@dionfanning) June 9, 2016

But as Glenn Whelan is on the other side there's no point in reading anything into that

— Dion Fanning (@dionfanning) June 9, 2016

However the pitch is looking well – perhaps a little too well considering they are preparing for a game on the Stade de France sandpit – and a good tempo was being set.

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