Ireland will return to training today for what is set to be the squad’s only full on-pitch session of the week ahead of Saturday’s Grand Slam decider against England at the Aviva Stadium.
ith a short six-day turnaround to deal with, as well as several injury concerns following last weekend’s bruising win over Scotland, Andy Farrell will have a much clearer picture of who will and won’t be available to face England following today’s session.
No 8 Caelan Doris and hookers Dan Sheehan and Rónan Kelleher are Farrell’s major worries, but there is some optimism the key trio could prove their fitness in time.
As Ireland bid to win a Grand Slam for only the fourth time and the first in Dublin, prop Tadhg Furlong says there is no room for complacency as a wounded England would love nothing more than to spoil the party.
“It means a lot,” Furlong said. “I don’t really like overly talking about it here because we’ve won nothing yet. That’s the dangers of complacency.
“We talk about it, we understand from the wider public as well. You just hope us wearing a green jersey and playing well, that people can be proud to be Irish and can associate with us.
“I understand that not everyone is a rugby person, and that’s fine if rugby is not your cup of tea. I hope they can see through our actions that it means something to us.
“It means something to play for Ireland, no matter if you’re within the island of Ireland, or if you’re Irish living abroad. Just to see that it means something to us and, hopefully, they can be proud of us.”
Garry Ringrose is recovering well from the head injury that saw him stretchered off at Murrayfield, with the centre understood to have joined the squad yesterday for team meetings as a key member of the leadership group.
Meanwhile, England lock Ollie Chessum has been ruled out of Saturday evening’s clash due to an ankle injury, with George Martin taking his place in Steve Borthwick’s 30-man squad.