There were always going to be changes for the Russia game but at least two will be injury enforced.
Ireland will have to plan without Chris Farrell and, by all safe accounts, Rob Kearney for their next game.
New of Jack Conan’s World Cup being ended by a fractured foot was confirmed by Joe Schmidt about an hour after his Ireland side had suffered a shock 19-12 defeat to Japan.
The Leinster back-row will fly back to his province to begin the road back to fitness while his place in the 31-man World Cup squad will be taken up by Jordi Murphy. Confirmation arrived early Sunday morning from the IRFU:
‘Jack will be replaced in the Ireland squad by Jordi Murphy. Jordi will arrive in Japan today (Sunday 29th September) and will join the Ireland squad in Kobe as they prepare for Thursday’s Pool A game against Russia.’
While Murphy may be drafted straight into the matchday 23 for the Russia game, and may even get a starting slot, Schmidt will have to plan without Chris Farrell.
The Munster centre, who has been Ireland’s best player over the first two games, suffered a concussion after 60 minutes against the Japanese. Farrell had made 10 carries and hit 15 tackles in that hour and his loss to injury damaged Ireland’s hopes of mounting a late comeback.
Farrell has been confirmed as a player who will definitely miss the game, after his concussion, but Rob Kearney is not being ruled out yet despite failing a Head Injury Assessment during the game. The fullback copped a blow to the head after chasing onto a kick over the top and a black eye was already developing as he was given a quick check by an Irish medic on the pitch. He went off for a HIA but did not return.
Ireland assistant coach Simon Easterby says Kearney did pass his HIA 2 so is still in contention to face the Russians. The five-day turnaround, however, makes such a selection unnecessary and he will most likely sit that one out.
There were two silver shimmers to Ireland’s dark injury cloud. Johnny Sexton is available for selection while Tadhg Furlong, who went off on saturday after 45 minutes, has been given the all clear for Thursday’s game.
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