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Dan Sheehan leads long list of Irish injuries heading into second Test
By Josh Raisey
Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan is out of the second Test against South Africa next week in Durban after suffering a suspected ACL tear, according to reports in Ireland.
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The 27-cap international suffered the injury on 28 minutes of the 27-20 loss to the world champions while tackling lock Eben Etzebeth, and could now be facing six to nine months on the sidelines.
Despite clambering back to his feet in order to rejoin the defensive line, the 25-year-old was in clear discomfort. The medical team heavily strapped his knee, allowing him to continue playing until half-time before being replaced by Ronan Kelleher.
Sheehan played a vital role in Ireland’s first try of the match, pulling off a behind-the-back pass to James Lowe for Jamie Osborne’s try five minutes before the break. The fact that the hooker was effectively on one leg makes an already spectacular try even more remarkable.
Unfortunately for Andy Farrell, Sheehan is just one of several casualties from the Test, with scrumhalf Craig Casey also set to miss next week’s encounter.
Casey was stretchered off in the second half, and Farrell confirmed after the match that he had suffered a concussion after his former Munster teammate RG Snyman slammed him to the ground at a ruck, causing his head to smash into the hard Loftus Versfeld turf.
Centre Robbie Henshaw also suffered a head injury in the first half of the match, and joined Sheehan in being replaced at half-time, with Garry Ringrose taking his place.
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Fullback Jamie Osborne left the field after 50 minutes of his debut with a groin injury and was soon followed by loosehead prop Andrew Porter, who had blood gushing from his hand, though he did return.
Farrell said post-match that there were “a few that we need to assess over the next 24 hours”, meaning Ireland’s starting XV could have a different complexion when they run out at Kings Park next Saturday.
Thats a great pity, would really have liked to see Sheehan and Marx head to head.
what is it w hookers and liagment tears? Marx, Bongi, Sheehan…who’s next?
Won’t matter anyway. Boks need incompetent refs to win. Barnes was up first. Pearce & Whitehouse joined the party over the weekend.
What are the chances Dickaon gets a fat envelope of unmarked cash this upcoming weekend too? The only way the Boks can win after all
DS is an incredibly talented hooker & one of the world's best, a huge blow for Ireland. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery
South Africa had the best of play but Farrell is absolutely correct to use the correct channels and bring issuesto attention ahead of the next test. That’s his role as head coach and he must do it to make sure his team have a more even rub of the green in Durban.
If World Rugby are trying to protect players than why was Snyman’s foul play on Casey not penalized?
As well as hitting him long after the ball is gone, Snyman uses all his force to smash Casey into the ground knocking him unconcious….then Snyman slides his body up Caseys and uses his head to push Casey’s head into the ground again. Real scvmbag stuff. They won’t thank him in Munster or Leinster for that. We don’t like cowards.