Sunday, 10 June 2012

No Second Test for Keith Earls


Ireland utility back Keith Earls has been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch with a pectoral muscle injury.

Earls, who suffered the injury in the later stages of the 42-10 defeat in Auckland, will be monitored by medical staff before the third Test.

Props Cian Healy and Declan Fitzpatrick may still play in the second Test despite also sustaining injuries.

Healy's shoulder injury is not as bad as first thought.

Healy had to be replaced in the second half of Ireland's 42-10 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday and coach Declan Kidney had said afterwardsb that the injury was a concern.

The 24-year-old has improved over the last 24 hours however and will be monitored during the week, along with tighthead prop Fitzpatrick.

The debutant's injury, initially thought to be a hamstring strain, turned out to be a gluteal muscle strain.

Neither of the front rowers has been ruled out of contention for selection for the second test in Christchurch on June 16, the team said.

The visitors could have faced a crisis in their front row this week with regular tighthead Mike Ross still suffering the effects of a hamstring injury that kept him out of the first test.


No comments: