Ireland have added Munster back rower Tommy O'Donnell and Leinster back Ian Madigan to their squad ahead of Sunday's clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.
Following an MRI scan on Monday, it was confirmed to the Ireland medical team that Ulster back-row Chris Henry suffered a cartilage tear to his right knee while playing last Friday.
The injury will require surgery and will rule Henry out of playing for approximately four weeks.
O'Donnell has thus been called into the squad as cover for this week after making an appearance for the Ireland Wolfhounds at the end of January.
Connacht centre David McSharry is also unavailable this week as he is still suffering from a niggling groin injury and so versatile Madigan has been called into the Irish camp.
Centre Luke Marshall, back-rower James Coughlan and second-rows Lewis Stevenson and Devin Toner had already been added to the squad as extra cover on Sunday.
Ireland Squad (30): Rory Best, Darren Cave, Tom Court, Sean Cronin, James Coughlan, Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Declan Fitzpatrick, Craig Gilroy, Robbie Henshaw, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Paddy Jackson, Rob Kearney, David Kilcoyne, Ian Madigan, Luke Marshall, Fergus McFadden, Conor Murray, Sean O'Brien, Donncha O'Callaghan, Tommy O'Donnell, Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara, Peter O'Mahony, Eoin Reddan, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Lewis Stevenson, Devin Toner.
Comments
99call says...
melkdave
Dont get me wrong mate Im not saying its that bleak for us going forward the point I was making is that many of us irish are expecting miracles and massive changes if DK gets relieved of his duties at the end of the season when I dont actually think that will happen
Apart from the obvious things like ROG being put out to pasture and the inevitable retirement of some of the golden generation the core of the team will be the same with the main issues for a new coach being who does he go with to back up Sexton and what will his 12/13 combo be
I do think we have some very talented young players coming through in Hanrahan and Marshall etc but its how we deal with the centre problem short term. Trimble started his career at centre and was brilliant for Ulster in the early years and it was that form that saw Eddie O move him to the wing as he wanted the best players in Ireland on the pitch even if they were playing out of position.
So with the lack of experienced current centre, allowing for the younger guys to get some more Game time, and all the talented wingers that we have a Timble/ Bowe centre combo is the obvious choice as theyve both played there are good footballers and defensively sound which is vital in the modern game
So Im not saying the future is bleak Im just saying that any changes that a new coah brings in may not be that different to what DK would do if he is still there for a few more years
Posted 10:03 20th February 2013
melkdave says...
@99Cal
A pretty bleak outlook you have there ,and while i agree a new coach isnt going to have any options in the frontrow,for sometime.I have to point out you have missed some good players like 2R-R.Caldwell,who i can see partnering D.Ryan for quite a few yrs,until D.Toner and Touhy force their way in.BR is where i see Henderson, perhaps as a 7 ,which would balance your BR somewhat.Outhalves Ireland are fine atm ,lots of competion should bring the best out of them,same with the B3 Center is the worry poistion and ive been arguing for A.Trimble to be playing 12 since 2010,the longterm future looks like L.Marshall,and D.Cave atm.but i can also see I.Maddigan or J.Halloran being one hell of a inside center longterm,and being able to take pressure off J.Sexton or Jackson /Kietly whoever nails down the 10 shirt.Ireland have options,and its not as bleak as you think .
Posted 17:14 19th February 2013
Irishzimbabwean says...
paddy91317 - I was at the Aviva for the England game and left so disappointed that we were so far behind England in spirit, teamwork and nous. Not usually the Irish way. I believe the players are being let down by their coaches/selectors. Your team is a fine one - the backline is a sizzler. However, would have to pick Court at loosehead and Henderson is too lightweight for Second Row.
Posted 16:25 19th February 2013
99call says...
I do think a change of coach is necessary but I would put out there a word of caution on what the nations expectations are going to be if we get someone new come the end of the 6n
Yes we may have someone who doesnt have provinical bias and therefore picks players on form rather than previous experience but is that going to make a massive change to the current side and would DK do anything different to a new coach when key players retire.
Starting with the front row Healy, Court, Kilcoyne, Best, Strauss Cronin, Ross, Bent, Fitzpatrick a new coach isnt going to change anything there as they are the best we have.
Backrow Ferris, SOB, POM, Heaslip, Henry, ODonnell, Couglan, how you make a balanced combo out of that could change but the core players wont
Second row DOC out, POC not long left, Ryan got a couple of years, McCarthy same as Ryan, The future will be Touhy Henderson and Nagle I think even DK can see that
Scrumhalves Murray, Reddan, Marshall maybe Marshall gets up the pecking order
Outhalves Sexton, Jackson, Keatley, Madigan will be fighting for the 10 shirt over the next few years obviously ROG will be gone DK will have wrung the last ounce out of him
Back 3 Bowe, Zebo, Earls, Gilroy, Kearney, Fitz, Trimble, Payne when he qualifies at Ulster, these players will still be in the squad under a new coach along with the likes of Henshaw who looks a great prospect
Then its the centres, who have we got after BOD and Darc go, Marshall, McSharry, Cave who i dont think will ever quite cut it at international level, Downey will be finished in a year or two as hes 31 now
So whats a new coach really going to do.... convert Trimble and Bowe to centres, you know what I hope so but apart from that and some new ideas on team strategy I dont see much of a change
I think we need a new coach but not expecting massive change
Posted 16:24 19th February 2013
griffi60 says...
@99call - Spot on! It's a real pity but you are right, people just there to make up the numbers, Kidney will go with the tried and tested.
Can only hope this is his last tournament, and with him going hopefully there will be a changing of the guard and we can build for the next WC.
Posted 13:30 19th February 2013
99call says...
Lets be honest there are plenty of boys in that squad who must know they wont see Murrayfield on Sunday, either Madigan or Jackson wont play as theres now way ROG wont be in the matchday 23 hes only brought Madigan in incase ROG falls down during training
Stevenson or Toner or both wont be there, Darren Cave wont be there even if BOD drops out, Henshaw, Couglan both of those are only there to make up the numbers.
With Henry out the bench may see Henderson and O'Donnell which wouldnt be bad but dont expect either to start
The big question is whether he'll have the balls to play Marshall at 12 as hes the only inside centre in the squad but lets not kid ourselves the 12 shirt will be on either Earls or McFadden
DK will not change his selection plans and favourite players now so lets just sit back take it on the chin and wait for our new coach
Posted 12:07 19th February 2013
PatrickH says...
@ Paddy91317
I think your disapproval for Kidney as a coach doesn't give you the right to abuse him personally.
Posted 11:47 19th February 2013
paddy91317 says...
@patrickh
No bud its not i want to see and ireland team that fields our best available players in the actual position with a clear gameplan is that really to much to ask for.... it really is depressing when we play so poorly because the talent is there just the right coaches arent like eddie o'sullivan was better than this clown in charge.... look at england they pick form players look at wales ireland france we dont. we have goons who are in well above there weight. KIDNEY OUT
Posted 08:10 19th February 2013
PatrickH says...
@ Paddy91317,
A bit harsh no?
Posted 07:33 19th February 2013
paddy91317 says...
If kidney has no intention of playin madigan he should have left him wit leinster atleast there he has an actuall rugby coach to help develop him further unlike that wobbly backboneless joke of a man kidney..... if o gara,earls and Do'c play i hope we get slaghtered so they all get thrown out if madigan/jackson fitz/mcfadden and henderson/toner play i hope we win in attacking style
Posted 21:26 18th February 2013
connaughtabu says...
I like the cut of O'Donnell's jib - he managed to play well against the Scarlets when many more senior colleagues were flapping about!
If only Toner were 3in shorter!
Go Ireland.
Posted 21:21 18th February 2013
ste490 says...
James Downey must've really upset Declan sometime!
Posted 21:19 18th February 2013
melkdave says...
WOW has Kidney a secret plan ,to tantalise the irish fans ,by calling up these talanted youngsters ,only to then disappoint come matchday .By picking the tried and tested or tried and wanting in some cases.Or is he finally going to give them the team they want.Somehow i rather dought it at the moment,but at least these talanted youngsters are geting exposure to the national set up ,which will be good experiance for the future.
Posted 20:30 18th February 2013
paddy91317 says...
Come on kidney please dont bottle..... team should be kilcoyne.best.ross.ryan.henderson.obrien.domRyan.heaslip.murray.madigan.fitzg.marshal drico.gilroy.kearney
Posted 20:07 18th February 2013
Dannyboy says...
Hope he get's a run out against Scotland!
Posted 20:05 18th February 2013
PatrickH says...
Best wishes to Henry, D'Arcy, Zeebo, Sexton, McCarthy and all others injured for the cause!
To the knew lads, grab your chance with both hands!
Posted 19:58 18th February 2013
papachinzo says...
Delighted for O'Donnell, the guy is a machine !! as for Madigan, about time, hope he gets his cap !!!
Posted 19:50 18th February 2013
scrumdog says...
Can't wait to see Madigan at 10....an out-half with BOD's eye for breaking the line!
Posted 19:39 18th February 2013