Tom O’Toole could face the All Blacks on Friday
Ulster’s Tom O’Toole looks set for a place on the bench for Ireland’s blockbuster clash with the All Blacks on Friday night as Tadhg Furlong is set to miss the game through injury.
The Leinster tighthead prop is understood to have picked up the issue in training, as reported by The42, and will not be fit in time for the game at the Aviva Stadium.
That has opened the door for O’Toole, who was likely going to be one of the reserves for the game but appears to be in line to take his place on the bench in Dublin, with Connacht prop Finlay Bealham set for the start.
Furlong’s absence is a clear blow for Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, who has started in every big game he has been available for and was set for his 79th cap on Friday.
While still offering plenty of experience and having grown into a trusted option for his country, former Ulsterman Bealham will be tasked with the unenviable job of locking down a New Zealand scrum that took Ireland apart in last year’s World Cup Quarter-Final.
On that occasion, Ethan de Groot – who is expected to return for this game having missed last week’s win over England having breached team protocols – Codie Taylor and Tyrel Lomax were on top in Paris and that trio is likely to start again in Dublin.
Ulster are not expected to have any players in the starting line-up for the All Blacks clash, however, despite not playing for his province this season, hooker Rob Herring could be included on the bench having recovered from injury.
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