Ireland have some major injury worries ahead of Sunday’s Six Nations game against Scotland, with Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen both major doubts ahead of the trip to Murrayfield.
Bealham left the action with a leg injury in the 59th-minute of Ireland’s 27-22 win against England on Saturday as the defending champions made a perfect start to their championship campaign.
Interim head coach Simon Easterby will hope the Connacht prop pulls through this week, especially with Tadhg Furlong currently recovering from a calf issue while Ulster tighthead Tom O’Toole is currently serving a ban.
Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby before the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Leinster tighthead Thomas Clarkson, who made his third international appearance off the bench against England, could be in line for a maiden Test start with uncapped Connacht frontrower Jack Aungier providing cover on the bench.
Ireland are hopeful that Joe McCarthy will be back in the mix. The Leinster lock is continuing to follow the returnto-play protocols after he suffered a head injury during a training session last week.
Munster’s Tom Ahern has been called up as injury cover.
BKT United Rugby Championship, Thomond Park, Limerick 2712/2024 Munster vs Leinster
Munster’s Tom Ahern. Pic: INPHO/Bryan Keane
Hansen, meanwhile, is struggling with a leg injury with Munster’s in-form wing Calvin Nash primed for a start in Edinburgh.
Connacht’s Shayne Bolton has also linked up with the Irish squad as cover this week. Easterby will confirm his starting line-up on Friday.
Meanwhile, former Leinster and Ireland flanker Seán O’Brien and Connacht’s Ulster-bound attack coach Mark Sexton, have been added to the backroom team this week as preparations continue for the Ireland ‘A’ game against England on February 23.
26 August 2022; Jonathan Sexton, right, with contact skills coach Sean O’Brien, centre, and senior coach Stuart Lancaster during an open training session on day two of the Leinster Rugby 12 Counties Tour at Kilkenny RFC in Kilkenny. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
They will assist Munster assistant coach Mike Prendergast. The IRFU has also confirmed that development players James McNabney, Hugh Cooney, Ben Murphy and Cathal Forde have returned to their provinces after spending two weeks in camp building up to the England game.
Meanwhile, France out-half Romain Ntamack will face a Six Nations disciplinary panel tomorrow after he received a 20-minute red card against Wales last Friday night.
Fabien Galthie’s side cruised to a 43-0 win in Paris but the first-round victory was marred by Ntamack’s careless late high tackle on Wales No10 Ben Thomas.
The Toulouse star could be facing a two-week ban, which would rule him out of this weekend’s meeting with England and potentially the thirdround tie against Italy.
Ireland face Les Bleus in Dublin on March 8 and it remains to be seen if the visitors will have their playmaker on board.
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