Ireland lose two important players – Rugby News Update
Ireland who are currently on tour to New Zealand for a three-match Test series against the All Blacks have been given a double injury blow before the third and final bout of the series.
Having lost the opening two matches, the Irish, who will be hoping for a consolation win after a determined show in the second match, where they lost 22 – 19 with virtually the last kick of the game, would fee that they could win the final game if all the
players were fit.
Jamie Heaslip, the 28-year-old Leinster and Ireland No.8 will not be taking any further part in the series, as he fractured his right index finger at the AMI Stadium. He played 80 minutes of the match but will not partake in any of the remainder matches.
Heaslip has been an important member of the Irish squad at the No.8 position since making his debut against the Pacific Islanders at Lansdowne Road, on November 26, 2006. He broke into the Leinster team in the 2004/05 season, and since then, he has been
an influential member of the club team that has won 3 Heineken Cups in the last four seasons.
He first emerged as a player with the Ireland U21 team, and since his debut he has played 53 times for his country, starting 50 of those games, coming on as a substitute a further 3 times.
Gordon D’Arcy, his 32-year-old club colleague at Leinster who plays in the centre, will join him on the sidelines. D’Arcy has a calf strain, and will remain with the squad, but his participation in the final test looks bleak. The Centre has been an important
member of the Ireland team since making his debut against Romania at Lansdowne Road, on October 15, 1999. Thus far he played 69 matches for Ireland, starting 60 games, coming on as a substitute 9 times. He was also an important member of the Leinster team
that won the Heineken Cup this year.
There were injury concerns over Irish skipper Brian O’Driscoll but he has been cleared alongside tight-head Mike Ross. Both had x-rays for facial injuries but they have been passed fit, and will play in the final test.
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