Ireland train for the last time at Carton House, today, before Joe Schmidt’s 2pm team announcement.
Schmidt is not expected to rock the selection boat too much following the injuries to Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw that will enforce two changes.
As many as five changes were mooted after Ireland shipped some brutal blows in the 21-9 defeat to New Zealand, last Saturday. CJ Stander looks to have passed all his Return To Play protocols, following his concussion, so the Irish back row should not be affected. That means Josh van der Flier will have to settle for a replacement role, again.
The other Irish player that completed his RTP on Wednesday was Rob Kearney. He is expected to take full contact in the 11am training session today and, if he comes through without any adverse effects, should be named at fullback.
The green light for Kearney would mean another weekend on the bench for Garry Ringrose. The 21-year-old filled in at inside centre for 70 minutes against the All Blacks, and did a fine job, but Schmidt is likely to choose from the Ulster duo of Luke Marshall and Stuart Olding.
While Marshall would appear to be the next logical option at 12, there have been a couple of suggestions in other media outlets that Olding will be given the nod.
Either way, Ringrose’s only chance of starting against the Wallabies would be if Kearney does not come through today’s training with flying colours. Were he to miss out, Jared Payne will be asked to drop back to 15 and Ringrose would step in at outside centre.
Earlier this week, Ringrose ran lines at 13 with Marshall and then Olding while Payne and Tiernan O’Halloran interchanged at fullback in training drills.
Schmidt will put the speculation to rest at 2pm when he names his matchday squad for Saturday’s game.
Dick Clerkin makes his GAA Hour debut to talk about a wonderful career and argue passionately with Colm Parkinson over Sky Sports GAA. Subscribe here on iTunes.
