Positive Injury News Ahead Of French Game
Ireland’s injury worries have eased somewhat ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France in Paris. Andrew Trimble (hamstring) and Stephen Ferris (knee) were the only players not to take a full part in Monday’s training session at the RDS.
The majority of the players who sustained knocks during the 29-11 win over Italy trained at the RDS on Monday, with winger Andrew Trimble the only one to sit out parts of the session.
Trimble and his Ulster team-mate Stephen Ferris, Ireland’s biggest concern, completed a ‘light workout’, with knee injury victim Ferris working away under the watchful eye of physiotherapist Cameron Steele.
Encouragingly, lock Donncha O’Callaghan, who missed the Italian game with a knee injury, did some sprinting with athletic trainer Brian Green as he comes back into consideration for next weekend’s showdown with France.
Out-half Jonathan Sexton is also back training after recovering from the dead leg that ruled him out of the RBS 6 Nations opener.
Running through the injury list, Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton told IrishRugby.ie: “Ronan (O’Gara) had a bang on his knee, he was taken off as a precaution during the second half against Italy.
“Tomas (O’Leary) has a dead leg and Paul (O’Connell) had a bang on his eye. We expect them to be fit.
“Andrew Trimble is a bit of a worry, because he came off with a strained hamstring. Obviously, Donncha (O’Callaghan) and Stephen Ferris are also concerns.
“But at this stage we’re not ruling anyone.”
Asked about the state of Ferris’ knee injury, which he sustained in action Heineken Cup action for Ulster just over two weeks ago, McNaughton said he is making slow but steady progress.
“He did a little bit (of training) when he came down here last week, Monday and Tuesday. He’s been off his feet for the rest of the week. We’ll know with Stephen in the next couple of days.
“He’s been able to put weight on it but hasn’t run strongly yet.”
Meanwhile, France coach Marc Lievremont has selected an unchanged 23-man squad for Saturday’s clash with the defending champions.
Prop Luc Ducalcon and wingers Aurelien Rougerie and Benjamin Fall are Les Bleus’ main injury concerns, with the team due to be named on Wednesday morning in Marcoussis.
“The group of 23 players will be retained despite the uncertainties,” explained Lievremont.
“It’s been a while since there was continuity in the France team, given injuries and loss of form.”
FRANCE Squad (v Ireland) – Backs (10): Morgan Parra (Clermont Auvergne), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Frederic Michalak (Toulouse), Mathieu Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), David Marty (Perpignan), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), Benjamin Fall (Bayonne), Clement Poitrenaud (Toulouse).
Forwards (13): Thomas Domingo (Clermont Auvergne), Luc Ducalcon (Castres), Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Francais), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), William Servat (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Metro), Julien Pierre (Clermont Auvergne), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier).