Irish coach Declan Kidney delays naming his team to face Argentina
Ireland coach Declan Kidney has decided not to name his team to face Argentina until Friday 26 November.
Ireland will face the Argentines on Sunday 28 November at the Aviva Stadium in their final Test of the Autumn Internationals.
Kidney is still waiting to see if a number of players will be fit to play in the match. Hooker Rory Best and Leinster backs Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald have already been ruled out of the game, after they picked up injuries in the Ireland’s 38-18 defeat
to the All Blacks.
Ireland’s back-line could have a number of changes in it, due to injury. Keith Earls is expected to start at full-back, while Andrew Trimble is likely to play on the wing in place of Fitzgerald.
Bowe, D’Arcy and captain Brian O’Driscoll may also miss the game and this would leave Kidney with only the half-backs available from the back-line, that started against the All Blacks.
"We had a few guys sitting out today’s session — David Wallace, Gordon D’Arcy, Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe," team manager Paul McNaughton told the press.
However, the team manager expects most of the players to take part in training by the end of the week. "They have various knocks while some other guys, such as Brian O’Driscoll and Damien Varley, have done modified non-contact work. We expect Brian to be
OK. He got a bruise on his AC joint, but he trained this morning, though it was not a full contact session."
McNaughton was quick to point out that Ireland would not risk any of their players unless they were fully fit.
"We’ll wait until Friday to name the team because it’s a Sunday game. We just need more time to think and also the injuries should be clarified by then. We wouldn’t take a risk on any player’s fitness. You can’t send out anyone who is 90 per cent fit and
hope for the best."
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