Ireland suffer second injury scare in two weeks as World Cup warm-ups loom

This would be a hammer blow to Ireland's World Cup hopes.

Cian Healy is the latest Irish player to have his tournament hopes thrown into doubt after it emerged that he is struggling with neck issues. The Leinster loose-head had surgery to repair a disc in his neck, back in May, but was hopeful he would be up to match readiness in time for the World Cup warm-ups. The Irish Independent is reporting, this morning, that recovery time from the neck surgery is taking longer than Healy and the Irish coaching staff anticipated. Ireland play Wales in their first warm-up, on August 8, and the game should come far too soon for Healy, as would the Scotland game at the Aviva stadium, on August 15. Were Healy to miss out on these games, and the tournament, Leinster's Jack McGrath would be expected to take the No.1 jersey, with Dave Kilcoyne of Munster deputising. This is the second scare Ireland have had in two weeks. Simon Zebo wrenched his knee during a training session, in Galway on July 14. 'It was my kneecap,' Zebo commented. 'It kinda (went) out and in. It was that feeling anyway. It was quite worrying for a few minutes.' He added, 'It’s all good [now]. The scans showed up clear, just a little bit of damage, but nothing to keep me out for too long. It’s fine. I took a few days’ rest. I had to take a few meds and put up the leg, but I feel fresh now again.'