Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

IRFU issue update on Bundee Aki and Sean Cronin

Referee Nic Berry shows Ireland's Bundee Aki a red card in Fukuoka (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The IRFU have issued an update on Bundee Aki’s disciplinary case and the status of reserve hooker Sean Cronin.

ADVERTISEMENT

Aki was banned for three games for a high shot against Samoa in Ireland’s final Pool A match.

The IRFU statement reads: “The Ireland Management will not appeal the sanction handed down to Bundee. We are disappointed with the outcome and believe that Bundee’s time will be best served helping prepare the squad for its remaining RWC19 fixtures.

“Sean Cronin Ruled Out – Rob Herring Joins Squad: Sean aggravated a pre-existing neck muscle complaint and has been ruled out of the remainder of RWC19.”

Meanwhile, Joe Schmidt has backed “big moments player” Peter O’Mahony to deliver again when it matters most in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.

British and Irish Lions flanker O’Mahony has held off the challenge of the in-form Rhys Ruddock to start Ireland’s last-eight battle with the All Blacks in Tokyo on Saturday.

O’Mahony might not top many tackle or carry counts, but head coach Schmidt insisted the 63-cap Munster back-rower remains vitally important to Ireland’s approach.

ADVERTISEMENT

Asked to appraise O’Mahony’s influence given those statistical anomalies, Schmidt expanded on the talismanic loose-forward’s specific role, and harked back to a top-level showing in Ireland’s 16-9 win over New Zealand in November.

“He brings a leadership and experience, and he’s a very effective lineout operator for us,” said Schmidt, of O’Mahony.

“Part of it is the structure, the way that he ends up across the width of the pitch. He tends to be playing in the wider channels, and therefore he’s not as involved as some of the other players who are closer in.

Ireland Training - Arcs Urayasu Park

ADVERTISEMENT

“I think stats always tell part of the story but they don’t tell the complete picture.

“And for us, there are things he can add for us that we think will be really important.

“He saved our bacon the last time we played the All Blacks with an exceptional turn and chase and the long arms that he reached out just to pluck the ball in front of Ben Smith, who really would have scored for certain if Pete hadn’t got back and saved that.

“I think he won two balls on the ground in that game for us as well, and that’s important.

“So he has been a bit of a big moments player for us; maybe not as many moments but the big moments, they count.”

Rob Kearney has edged out Jordan Larmour to return and start at full-back to face the All Blacks, with boss Schmidt effectively selecting his strongest starting XV.

Bundee Aki’s absence through suspension allows Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose to reprise their Leinster centre combination at Test level once again.

Schmidt admitted Larmour had been close to selection, with the Leinster speedster taking a seat on the bench.

“Yeah, there were probably half a dozen reasonably tight selection decisions,” said Schmidt.

“You can’t guarantee you’ve got any decision right until the game is completed.

“Chris Farrell has been very good for us, really come on and made an influential impact against Scotland.

“Andrew Conway has been very good too, and so the outside backs have been a bit of a conundrum.

“We’ve tried to add up as best we can the combinations we think that will best serve us in this fixture.

“I think the unfortunate thing about selecting a 23 to play the All Blacks is that they can play very well and still not get the result. That’s the quality the All Blacks have.

“But these players, they’ve had some very successful experiences together and contributed to a fair bit of history for us.

“You can’t go out against the All Blacks and accept that you’re second fiddle.

“You’ve got to go out and put your best foot forward.”

Ireland team to face New Zealand: R Kearney (Leinster), K Earls (Munster), G Ringrose, R Henshaw (both Leinster), J Stockdale (Ulster), J Sexton (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster, capt), T Furlong (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), James Ryan (Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster), J Van Der Flier (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster). Replacements: N Scannell, D Kilcoyne (both Munster), A Porter (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), R Ruddock, L McGrath (both Leinster), J Carbery (Munster), J Larmour (Leinster).

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

A
AM 39 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

72 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Would a Springboks B team really conquer the world? Would a Springboks B team really conquer the world?
Search