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Ireland issue pre-England update on injured quartet, including Keenan
By PA
Ireland quartet Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan, Iain Henderson and Oli Jager are all in contention for this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with England after training on Tuesday.
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Midfielder Ringrose is yet to feature in this year’s championship because of a shoulder injury. Full-back Keenan and lock Henderson missed the round-three win over Wales due to respective knee and dislocated toe issues. Munster prop Jager made his Test debut as a replacement in that 31-7 success on February 24 before sustaining a knee problem.
Grand Slam-chasing Ireland, who play at Twickenham this weekend before completing their campaign at home to Scotland on March 16, reported a clean bill of health ahead of holding a more physical training session on Wednesday.
“We were all on the field today [Tuesday], it was great,” scrum coach John Fogarty told reporters. “Garry, Hugo and Iain all trained today, Oli as well. So, yeah, it’s such an important day for us to be on the field. A healthy squad training today is important for selection and it was great they were all on the field.”
Ciaran Frawley deputised for Keenan against Wales and marked his first international start with one of four tries for Andy Farrell’s side. Asked about the progress of Ireland’s first-choice number 15, Fogarty said: “Well, he trained today. Again, they are on the road to recovery, training on the field today live was important for them. We’ll see how they got through the session.
“We have another session tomorrow [Wednesday], which is the most physical session of the week where we will properly test our plan and the players so we will see how he gets through tomorrow and then Andy will select his side.
“(Today) it’s full speed, there is no huge contact in it, it’s kind of a coaching day. Monday is forming a plan, Tuesday we put it on the field and we will see the timings of our launch plays and how our defence works, and tomorrow we will test that full contact.
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“We want to get as live as possible, ready for what is going to be a huge test in Twickenham.”
What is making Ireland so dominant in the Six Nations ? @BenKay5 and @RosscoHamilton look closer in episode 3 of Beyond 80 ?
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Think it’s going to be a huge test. Expect England to put up a massive fight. It will be hostile and nasty. But Ireland will prevail, another bonus point win versus maybe 2 tries for England. 15+ margin in a competitive game.
England must score the first try to have any chance of keeping it close enough to snatch.