Ireland’s management team face an anxious wait to find out if Jared Payne will be available for next week’s second November international against Georgia.
The New Zealand-born back made his Ireland debut in yesterday’s stunning 29-15 victory over South Africa, forming an untested midfield partnership with Connacht’s Robbie Henshaw that held its own against a powerful Springbok onslaught.
But Payne picked up an foot injury in the latter stages of the tie, and while post-match X-rays proved negative, the Ulster man will undergo scans tomorrow to fully assess the damage.
‘Just chatting to Jared and the doc, we think he might have sprained his foot,’ head coach Joe Schmidt said after the game. ‘He’s had an X-ray that’s clear so it’s a step in the right direction, not that he’s probably taking too many rampant strides at the moment.
‘I’m hopeful that it will be okay, but we won’t know until probably Monday evening or Tuesday because I think there’s some scans booked for Monday.’
With so much attention on the new centre pairing, the duo were understandably thrilled to have played their part in a memorable Irish triumph.
‘They’re unbelievably talented players,’ winger Simon Zebo said. ‘The two boys are very experienced, Robbie even though he’s so young.
‘At the end of the day it’s another game of rugby so all the hype building up around the two boys was a bit much but the boys put in a great performance and at the end of the day it’s another game of rugby and they’re well able no matter who the opposition are. The two of them are delighted.’
Schmidt is also awaiting a medical update on flanker Chris Henry, who was withdrawn from Saturday’s team due to the effects of a virus.
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