Ireland could have five Lions back for Saturday’s Dublin clash against France, with flanker Sean O’Brien close to contention after a hamstring injury in the warm-up in Rome last weekend ruled him out of a first Test appearance in more than a year.
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Jonathan Sexton, Jamie Heaslip, Rory Best, Cian Healy and O’Brien could all come into an Ireland side which was less than convincing in an opening 26-3 win over Italy.
O’Brien was a late withdrawal from the starting XV, but a MRI scan on Sunday confirmed the tearaway forward suffered only a minor hamstring strain in the warm-up in Rome and he is poised to train today, Ireland team manager Mick Kearney said yesterday.
Sexton could displace Ian Keatley at fly-half at the Aviva Stadium after recovering from a head knock and No.8 Heaslip could play following a shoulder injury.
Prop Cian Healy is available following a torn hamstring which required surgery last September, while a fifth Lion could also be fit
after going off in Rome.
Hooker Rory Best is following return to play protocols after a concussion suffered in the Italian capital.
O’Brien has not played for Ireland since the agonising late defeat to world champions New Zealand in November 2013 after two
shoulder reconstruction surgeries.
“They’re there from the second you wake up.” Johnny Sexton talks nerves in our ‘#AllitTakes is Everything’ campaign. http://t.co/lrQHEy5lnp
— Three Rugby Ireland (@ThreeIrlRugby) February 9, 2015
Kearney said: “Sean O’Brien did an MRI scan last night which confirmed a hamstring strain on the minor end of the scale. He is feeling good and we are hopeful that he will train with the squad tomorrow.
“If he comes through that, he will be available for selection. Whether that will happen or not, we will have to wait and see. Jonny Sexton is cleared to train fully and he is available for selection. Cian Healy trained fully last week, which he came through very well and he is available for selection.”
With head injuries under scrutiny after Wales’ failure to remove George North from their defeat to England, Ireland are taking no
chances with Best.
Kearney added: “If he completes the protocol without any symptoms, he will be available for selection. He certainly will not be ruled out at this stage.”
