Ireland this morning suffered their first injury casualty of the World Cup as it was confirmed Jared Payne has fractured foot.
The Ulster centre missed last weekend’s win over Italy with a suspected bruise in his left foot. He returned to training in preparation for tomorrow’s pool decider with Ferance but, after continued discomfort following Wednesday’s session. he underwent a further scan.
A fracture was discovered and the 29-year-old New Zealander is set to return to Ireland to receive for further examination, but was this morning ruled out of the rest of the tournament.
Keith Earls will play at outside centre alongside Robbie Henshaw in Cardiff and Joe Schmidt will delay calling up a replacement until after tomorrow’s match.
Of the three potential centres culled by Schmidt before the tournament began, Gordon D’Arcy has retired from rugby, while Fergus McFadden and Noel Reid have returned to Leinster.
Reid is a specialist centre, while McFadden offers more versatility and is primarily employed as a wing.
With current incumbent Earls, utility back Luke Fitzgerald and specialist centre Darren Cave candidates to fill Payne’s position, Schmidt could elect to call up Andrew Trimble or Felix Jones, who could both offer further cover in the backline.
