Fears over Joey Carbery’s availability for Ireland’s opening Bank of Ireland Nations Series game against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday week have been allayed with the news that the Munster outhalf will train fully this week.
Carbery was withdrawn before the hour mark of the defeat to Leinster on Saturday after extending his shoulder in making a tackle but the injury has proved to be minor. In contrast, the third outhalf in the Irish squad, Ciarán Frawley “will be managed across the week” after injuring his shoulder in the same game according to a generally positive IRFU update.
Furthermore, Tadhg Beirne (adductor), Jamison Gibson-Park (hamstring), Hugo Keenan (abdomen), Jacob Stockdale (ankle) and Calvin Nash (dead leg) will be reintegrated to training this week, while both Tadhg Furlong (ankle) and Peter O’Mahony (neck) will complete their rehab programmes and train later this week.
“Craig Casey (groin) and Josh van der Flier (ankle) will continue their rehab this week,” said the statement
The Ulster contingent of Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Rob Herring, Michael Lowry, Stuart McCloskey, Tom O’Toole, Nick Timoney and Kieran Treadwell returned from South Africa last night following the postponement of their match against the Sharks after illness swept through their squad.
“They will be managed over the coming days following the recent gastro issues experienced by the Ulster squad.”
The dozen players named in the A Panel for the game against the All Blacks XV at the RDS on Friday, November 4th, will remain with their provinces this week to play in the round seven of the URC.