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Ireland prop Jager to see specialist with potential surgery looming
By Josh Raisey
Newly capped Ireland tighthead Oli Jager is set to see a specialist this week to see whether he will need to have surgery for a knee injury, his club Munster have confirmed.
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The 28-year-old earned his first cap for Ireland in round three of the Guinness Six Nations this year against Wales at the Aviva Stadium, replacing Tadhg Furlong from the bench.
He did not play in the final two rounds against England or Scotland, and Munster have now revealed he has a knee injury in their update ahead of a United Rugby Championship clash with the Ospreys on Friday.
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Jager is in the same position as fellow Ireland international Fineen Wycherley, who will also see a specialist this week over a possible knee surgery.
Scrumhalf Craig Casey and prop Jeremy Loughman have also returned to the squad this week after Ireland’s triumphant Six Nations campaign. The pair did not feature as much as their Munster teammates in the tournament, and will therefore be in contention for the trip to Swansea.
Having originally been named as one of three ‘Training Panellists’ in the Ireland squad before the Championship began, Jager was called into the squad before the Wales match. In the build-up to his debut, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said the prop’s debut was a “special one”.
“It’s always a pleasure to give someone their debut and I think this is a special one because it’s a special story in Oli,” said Farrell.
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“In fact, I’ve had a couple of conversations with him over the years. When we were over in New Zealand, I met him about his plans.
“And where that sat but he was content enough because he was building a really nice life for himself over there and doing unbelievably well for the Crusaders.
“But he showed his ambition to come back to Ireland and make a claim for a spot playing for his country.
“We’ve had him earmarked for a while but watching him start his career in Ireland at Munster and how that’s gone and then giving him the opportunity to come to Portugal with us and he’s had a few more weeks with the squad since then, we’ve been nothing but impressed.
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“He’s a big man, very low maintenance, a proper man’s man, you know? The ‘tache says it all!”
