Hours after being named in the Irish team to face Italy after returning from a hamstring injury, Jonathan Sexton has been ruled out with a torn tendon in his foot. Will this injury curse ever lift?
The France-bound out-half went over on his foot in training today and a scan subsequently confirmed that he tore a tendon in his left peg, immediately ruling him out of this weekend’s clash with the Azzurri and paving the way for Paddy Jackson to make his third successive appearance at out-half.
As he did at the Aviva on Saturday, Ian Madigan will provide cover from the bench and we imagine that those fit to travel to Rome are currently being covered in large sheathes of cotton wool in an attempt to prevent yet another injury from disrupting preparations.
Ireland team to play Italy: Kearney; Gilroy, O’Driscoll, Marshall, Earls; Jackson, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross; McCarthy, Ryan; O’Mahony, O’Brien, Heaslip.
Replacements: Cronin, Kilcoyne, Archer, Toner, Henderson, Marshall, Madigan, Fitzgerald.
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