Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Andy Farrell provides Tadhg Furlong injury update

By PA
Head coach Andy Farrell speaks to Tadhg Furlong during an Ireland rugby squad training session at Complexe de la Chambrerie in Tours, France. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Head coach Andy Farrell is hopeful prop Tadhg Furlong will make a swift recovery from the hamstring strain which has ruled him out of Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series opener against New Zealand.

ADVERTISEMENT

Leinster tighthead Furlong arrived in camp nursing the muscular problem and has fallen short in his fitness battle ahead of Friday’s Dublin showdown with the All Blacks.

Finlay Bealham will deputise for the 31-year-old, while Farrell dismissed concerns about the potential rustiness of his hookers after including Ronan Kelleher and Rob Herring in his 23 in the absence of the sidelined Dan Sheehan.

Video Spacer

JDV and Nick Mallett on England’s ‘plastic energy’ | RPTV

Boks Office comment on England’s celebrations for making tackles against New Zealand. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV.

Watch now

Video Spacer

JDV and Nick Mallett on England’s ‘plastic energy’ | RPTV

Boks Office comment on England’s celebrations for making tackles against New Zealand. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV.

Watch now

Kelleher has been selected to start just a month since suffering an ankle injury, with Herring providing backup from the bench, having not played this season.

“He had a bit of a hamstring strain coming into camp, we thought it would be something that would progress,” Farrell, whose side also host Argentina, Fiji and Australia this month, said of Furlong.

Fixture
Internationals
Ireland
14:10
8 Nov 24
New Zealand
All Stats and Data

“He was rehabbing, like a few other lads, but unfortunately it’s just not picked up in time so, rather than push too hard and then him be out for the series, we’ll take our time and hopefully he’s back sooner rather than later.

“He’s had a good week in terms of next steps but obviously there’s a process that he has to go through.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Asked about Kelleher and Herring, Farrell replied: “Ronan and Rob have done everything since we came into camp so we’re really pleased with them.”

Farrell has made five changes to the team which began the series-levelling 25-24 win over world champions South Africa in July.

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, wing Mack Hansen and full-back Hugo Keenan return after missing the summer tour, with centre Bundee Aki also restored, in addition to Bealham.

Ireland are set to take on the All Blacks for the first time since last year’s 28-24 World Cup quarter-final defeat in Paris.

ADVERTISEMENT

The hosts’ match day 23 contains 17 players who featured at Stade de France little more than 12 months ago.

Farrell insists his side, who bounced back from that agonising loss by retaining the Guinness Six Nations title and then securing the 1-1 draw against the Springboks, have moved on.

“I don’t see the relevance of the last game (against New Zealand) at all,” he said.

“We didn’t even get a chance to review our last game in South Africa because we were on our holidays, so our main thing was about our last game: what are the areas in which we can improve and that is the main thing that excites us about where our next steps are.

“We got asked straight after the World Cup about the hangover and that subject is in the past now, so we’ve moved on since the quarter-final, that’s for sure.”

Related

Caelan Doris will lead Ireland after being named captain for the November fixtures, with Peter O’Mahony, who initially replaced the retired Johnny Sexton as skipper, on the bench following a hamstring injury.

“Peter would be the first one to go up to Caelan and not just congratulate him but help him out as well,” Farrell replied when asked about O’Mahony’s response to losing the captaincy.

“He (Doris) is certainly popular among the group because there’s no ego there whatsoever.

“He is unbelievably diligent in getting his own stuff right. He’s so professional. He’s come on leaps and bounds in the last four years in regards to that, he’s worked it out.

“He’s very comfortable in his own skin. He’s taken it all in his stride and that puts everyone else at ease. He’s thriving in the role now.”

Related

Louis Rees-Zammit joins Jim Hamilton for the latest episode of Walk the Talk to discuss his move to the NFL. Watch now on RugbyPass TV

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING The ‘unsung hero’ who helped All Blacks’ bench make a telling difference The ‘unsung hero’ who helped All Blacks’ bench make a difference
Search