‘Two to four weeks’ is the current best estimate.
We assumed Iain Henderson was being stood down from Guinness PRO12 duty to save him for the November 5 meeting with New Zealand in Chicago.
However, judging from comments by Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss, the versatile forward may now be a doubt for most of the Novembers Tests.
Henderson injured his shoulder in last weekend’s narrow Champions Cup victory over Exeter Chiefs and is now resting up after being assessed by medical staff. Speaking with the Belfast Telegraph, Kiss revealed:
“Sometimes you say two to four [weeks] and you get held to it but we have to see how it responds in the first week.”
Even if that first week of rest and rehabilitation went well, it is unlikely that Henderson would be pitched in against the All Blacks at Soldier Field.
It now looks likely that Joe Schmidt will need to look elsewhere for a second row partner for lineout leader Devin Toner. Having missed the 2016 Six Nations, Henderson played all three Test against South Africa in the summer [twice at lock, once at blindside].
The most likely option would be Donnacha Ryan, who had a fine game for Munster last Saturday, although Connacht’s Ultan Dillane has been in good form.
Were Henderson to recover well from his latest dint, he may get some game time against Canada [November 12] with a view to the second encounter with the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium on November 19.
Ireland look likely to be without Keith Earls [suspension], Dave Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Dave Foley and Stuart McCloskey for the upcoming games but, all things considered, they are not in too bad a shape.
Colm Parkinson chats to Kerry GAA legend, and author, Kieran Donaghy in a special edition of The GAA Hour. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes
