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Andy Farrell provides bleak update on Cian Healy injury

By PA
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 29: Cian Healy of Ireland leaves the field injured during the match between the Maori All Blacks and Ireland at FMG Stadium on June 29, 2022 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell admitted Cian Healy’s leg injury “doesn’t look too good” following an emphatic 32-17 defeat by the Maori All Blacks.

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Veteran prop Healy, who came off the bench after international rookie Jeremy Loughman required a head injury assessment, left the pitch on a medical cart having twisted awkwardly.

If the front-row pair are ruled out of Saturday’s opening Test against New Zealand, Andrew Porter would be Ireland’s only available loosehead.

Video Spacer

Ireland post-match press conference

Video Spacer

Ireland post-match press conference

Farrell, who fielded an experimental starting XV in Hamilton, also lost centre James Hume to injury, while full-back Jimmy O’Brien sustained a knock.

“Cian doesn’t look too good… he was in a bit of pain coming off the field,” said Farrell. “(The injury) has settled down a bit so we will have to see with him.

“Jeremy actually passed his HIA (head injury assessment) by the independent doctor. We brought him off as a precaution, put Cian on and then that happens to Cian, which is not nice really.

“Jimmy came off with a strain. He’s feeling good in the changing rooms.

“James Hume has a bit of a groin injury that needs assessment tomorrow.”

Farrell is set to name his team for the weekend clash with the All Blacks on Thursday.

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While Porter has established himself as first-choice in the Irish number one jersey, the potential lack of cover is a concern. Connacht’s Finlay Bealham has featured at loosehead before in international rugby but is a recognised tighthead.

Ireland suffered a punishing start to their tour after an unfamiliar team featuring five uncapped players were dismantled in the opening period.

The dominant Maoris – who began with 10 debutants – ran in four tries to effectively wrap up victory by the break.

Scores from stand-in skipper Bundee Aki and the impressive Gavin Coombes either side of half-time were scant consolation for the Irish, who at least kept out their opponents in the second period.

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Farrell will swiftly turn his attention to taking on the All Blacks in Auckland, where he will bring back his senior players and hope for a far greater showing.

“We’re disappointed, the boys are disappointed, obviously,” he said.

“They feel they could have given a better account of themselves, certainly in the first half. The Maori team 100 per cent deservedly won that game.

“But I’m proud of the boys, the way they came back. It could have been a landslide with the way the score was at half-time.

“The way that some of the individuals have learned, stood up, done some unbelievably good stuff and then some really poor stuff on the back of that is brilliant learnings.

“In all, it’s a good day for us in regards to lads learning lessons and knowing that if we fix a few things, especially discipline-wise, we can give a better account of ourselves in the next game.”

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JW 1 hour ago
Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

More indecision and excuses from Razor.


You've given a spot at 6 to Finau whom you haven't even had the courage to use off the bench in the last two games. Now the young enforcer is going into a big much with no rugby, we should expect a similar result to how Aumua struggled to impact a game after he'd hardly been given any chances of the bench either.


Weve now dropped a back three player who also wasn't even given any game time off the bench for someone coming in cold when they really need to have been playing constantly to perform at their best. There are just so many better pictures that should have been present rather than this mickey mouse selection.


I really hope Finau can overcome this, it won't be the first time he's had to. How is the bench even made up? Could you not just have included these changes in the article as well? I actually like BB coming back in, it highlights how courageous he is after sitting out through another concussion that could just as easily sent him back into months of symptoms again.


Dmac was also off his game last week, as was Ratima, with the poor platform Razor and his team have been setting the players up with. He needs to freedom to clear his mind from the clutter that saw him make so many bad decisions last week. It will still probably be a net loss for the team performance not having him on from the start but it should be better for them in the long run if he's allowed to just come on late and play his game trying to claw things back for the team.


With Roigard starting that might prove an outlet for the team to actually get on top first however. Along with Ardie busting a gut in his new role and emptying the tank by halftime, and being replaced by another new star, might mean that Dmac is just icing on the cake at the end.

13 Go to comments
F
Flankly 1 hour ago
Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

I am not an England fan, but still very disappointed at what Borthwick is serving up. Regardless of winning or losing, they should be executing the basics at a world class level. That was the reason they replaced Eddie with Steve. After two years England has not built the solid foundations that the RFU were presumably after. Its hard to see it as anything other than a coaching problem.


Having said that I really hope that Rassie has got his team fired up for the game. The Boks at maximum intensity and with no crises (eg red cards) would be expected to win this game. But it does not take much reduction in pressure for Bok teams to lose. The Boks lose when complacency sets in.


On Felix Jones, my guess is that they can't agree on a non-compete so they kept him on payroll for the duration of the Nov tests. The risk was that he would be hired by Rassie or Razor prior to the tests.


As relates to law tweaking, it feels like WR are more comfortable discussing changes in laws than insisting on implementation. For my money the biggest thing they could do is to be strict and consistent in officiating ruck behavior. In every game we see flopping, lazy lying, clearing of unbound players, making plays while off your feet, delays in placing the ball, side entry, offside line infringements, and similar nonsense. It's really really bad, and the WR attitude seems to be that we should turn a blind eye in pursuit of "flowing rugby". In truth it's just boring, because it randomizes the outcome.

11 Go to comments
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