Ireland latest: Centre ruled out with ‘recurrence’ but trio receive ‘return to full training’ go-ahead for Springboks showdown
Garry Ringrose is back in the Ireland fold but Stuart McCloskey, will miss the match versus the Springboks.
Garry Ringrose is back in the Ireland fold but Stuart McCloskey, will miss the match versus the Springboks.
Ireland have confirmed that Stuart McCloskey will miss Saturday’s series-defining game with South Africa in Dublin, but the update was much better regarding three other players.
McCloskey arrived into the Autumn Nations Series nursing a groin injury sustained on October club duty with Ulster.
He managed to be fit in time for the series-opening loss to the All Blacks in Chicago on November 1, but his follow-up appearance for Andy Farrell’s side against Australia was cut short after just 27 minutes last Saturday at Aviva Stadium.
Despite some suggestions that he had suffered a new injury, an Irish medical bulletin on Monday admitted the Ulster centre had encountered a recurrence of his original groin issue.
Counter-balanced
McCloskey was replaced against the Wallabies by Bundee Aki, and his loss to the squad has been counter-balanced by the return of Garry Ringrose to full training.
A hamstring problem has meant that Ringrose hasn’t played since the loss to the All Blacks, but he is now back into contention for a spot in the Ireland midfield.
Josh van der Flier has also returned to the fold after he was sidelined with a similar hamstring injury since starting in Chicago.
The 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year will now look to regain his place at openside which last weekend was filled by skipper Caelan Doris, who switched over from his usual position at number eight.
Ireland will also have a full complement to choose from at tighthead as the HIA that sub Thomas Clarkson had to go off for late in the match against Australia was passed, enabling him to bolster his team’s scrum as it prepares for a thorough examination from the Springboks.
A statement read: “Josh van der Flier and Garry Ringrose have both returned to full training and will be available for selection.
“Thomas Clarkson has passed all HIA protocols following the game and is expected to train fully this week. Stuart McCloskey suffered a recurrence of a groin injury and is ruled out.”
Ireland will name their team on Thursday and having drawn their two-game series away to South Africa in July 2024, they will be gunning for the win against the world’s current number one side to try and lift them in the world rankings ahead of next month’s draw for Rugby World Cup 2027.
Despite defeating Australia by a record 46-19 margin, Ireland dropped to fourth in the rankings and were replaced in third by England, who beat the All Blacks last Saturday in London.
