Ireland are facing an injury crisis for the Six Nations opener against Italy after Jamie Heaslip, Shane Horgan and John Hayes were ruled out of Saturday week’s clash.
To make matters worse, Horgan and Hayes are expected to miss the game against France a week later, while Heaslip is expected to return for the first Six Nations clash to take place in the Aviva Stadium.
The number of walking wounded has now increased to seven with Rob Kearney, Geordan Murphy and Andrew Trimble all definitely out, while Jerry Flannery is not expected to be fit in time to face the Italians.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney will be hoping for more positive developments on the injury front from Tommy Bowe and Stephen Ferris, who are both attending specialists to assess knee injuries. News of their fitness is expected in the next 24 hours.
Leinster wing Horgan sustained a knee injury and was withdrawn at half-time of their convincing win over Racing Metro in the Heineken Cup on Friday night. Hayes was also withdrawn at half-time of Munster’s clash with London Irish on Saturday with a groin injury.
Heaslip has struggled with an ankle injury since the start of the year, but Kidney will be consoled by the fact that he plenty of back-row cover, whereas the absence of Horgan and Hayes adds to problems in the back-line and in the front row, areas where Ireland were struggling already.
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