Ireland: Tadhg Furlong and James Ryan to be fit for Six Nations

Planet Rugby

Leinster coach Felipe Contepomi is confident that key Ireland pair James Ryan and Tadhg Furlong, as well as wing Jordan Larmour, will be available for the start of the Six Nations.

Ryan pulled out late on ahead of the Irish province’s 89-7 demolition of Montpellier on Sunday, while Furlong went off just five minutes into that clash.

Larmour also had to be replaced due to a dead leg, but all three injuries don’t appear to be serious.

In contention to face Bath

They could even feature in their final Champions Cup clash against Bath this weekend, according to Contepomi.

“We haven’t ruled them out for this weekend so yeah, I’d like to think they will be up for the Six Nations for certain,” the Leinster coach said.

“It’s three weeks’ time, two weeks’ time, so they should be ok for that.

“We still have to take them into account (for the Bath game). Hopefully, one or two or three of them can make it at the weekend.”

Leinster have barely played over the past few weeks due to Covid, with the clash against Montpellier their first match since December 11.

They welcomed back star fly-half Johnny Sexton, who came off the bench in the second period and made an immediate impression.

Sexton had not featured since the Autumn Nations Series and the 36-year-old will look to find some form before the Six Nations begins.

“Johnny puts pressure on everyone in terms of when he comes back and trains,” Contepomi said.

“When he trains the way he’s training in the last few weeks, definitely he puts pressure on everyone but it’s not about Johnny, one player, it’s about Leinster, and we always try to field the best team we think is ready to perform the best way for Leinster.

“Hopefully, Johnny is in good form, really good form. My view with Johnny, to be honest, is that he doesn’t need that many more games under his belt.

“He needs to keep on training and if he can keep himself fit and train properly at the level we train here and then at the level they train with Ireland he’ll definitely be match-ready.

“Hopefully he can play this weekend and then he can have some more games but he’s not a youngster that needs games under his belt.

“He has so much experience that all he has to do is keep himself really fit and be ready when he needs to step out onto the pitch.”