The news on the injury front is a bit ‘meh’ for Ireland but France are affected too so it’s not all bad, while a Welsh out half has decided not to keep up with the rest of the Joneses.
Good but not great news on the injury front for Ireland
Declan Kidney could use all the help he can get ahead of the France game next weekend and although there was better news concerning the walking wounded in the Irish camp today, it was still nothing to get carried away with.
Team Manager Mick Kearney delivered an update on the injury situation in the Irish camp earlier on, saying that they were ‘more hopeful than confident’ that Jonathan Sexton would be fit and that Mike McCarthy is 50/50 to face France as it currently stands.
Donnacha Ryan isn’t due to resume training until Monday and while Craig Gilroy is still a little tender after being withdrawn in Murrayfield on Sunday, he is not thought to be a huge doubt to face Les Bleus.
Quite a few of the squad will be involved in Rabo 12 action at the weekend and Kidney will be hoping against hope that they all make it through unscathed; the queue for the doctor’s door is long enough as it is.
At least France have been hit too…
Speaking of injuries, while we wish no ill-will on our upcoming opponents, it’s good to know that Ireland aren’t the only ones being affected by the absence of some key players at the moment.
French lock Pascal Pape confirmed on Twitter this morning that he doesn’t expect to return to action until March 23, meaning that he will play no part against Ireland next weekend, or in the rest of the Six Nations for that matter.
It might be a little devious to suggest that he would possibly try to hasten his comeback if France hadn’t lost their first three games, but if the likes of Wesley Fofana, Louis Picamoles and Morgan Parra could suddenly hit by temporary ailments that rule them out of the Aviva Stadium encounter and no further games thereafter, it would be no harm whatsoever.
The end is nigh for Stephen Jones
There has been much speculation about Ronan O’Gara’s international future in recent weeks, but an out-half who faced O’Gara many times in a red jersey has decided to hang up his boots for good at the end of the season.
With 17 years of rugby, 104 caps for Wales and six appearances for the Lions under his belt, Stephen Jones will retire at the end of the season and take up a coaching role with Wasps, whom he currently represents in the Aviva Premiership.
“I feel incredibly lucky to have played for some fantastic sides down through the years and I feel the time is right for me now to make the transition into coaching, which is what I have always wanted to do,” Jones said.
“There is an opportunity for me to do that at London Wasps and I am very excited about the next step of my career.
“I want to say a huge thanks to everyone at the Scarlets, Clermont Auvergne and London Wasps – and I feel grateful to have worn three fantastic professional club shirts in my career.
“I also feel honoured to have pulled on the Wales and British and Irish Lions shirts and I appreciate everyone involved in those sides as well as the supporters who have been there and backed me throughout my playing days. I am taking with me some incredible memories and experiences.”
Although his kicking style was slightly unorthodox it worked for the most part, while his physicality, his range of passing and his ability to make the backline tick made him a favourite with Welsh managers down through the years.
Irish rugby supporters, meanwhile, will always remember him for this. Thanks Stephen…
We wish him all the best in his retirement.
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