JOHNNY SEXTON AND Simon Zebo will train with Ireland today, but Joe Schmidt is waiting to see if outside centre Jared Payne is fit to be involved in tomorrow’s session at Carton House.
The outside centre is carrying a hamstring strain and remains a doubt for Saturday’s Six Nations meeting with England in Twickenham.
Out-half Sexton rolled an ankle early on in Friday’s training open training session at Mullingar RFC and sat out the majority of the run-out.
However, Ireland manager Mick Kearney says Sexton has recovered well and will take part in today’s training as preparations for Saturday’s with England in London intensify.
Simon Zebo missed Ireland’s defeat against France two weekends ago due to a knee injury - though only narrowly - but he is now fully fit again and will train today.
Keith Earls is in a similar position, having been absent from the trip to Paris on account of a concussion suffered in the first round draw with Wales. The Munster man trained fully last week in Mullingar and is available for selection this weekend.
There remains doubt around Ulsterman Payne, who sustained a hamstring strain in the second half against the French but managed to complete the remainder of that fixture.
Jared is continuing his rehab and the hope is that he will train fully tomorrow,” said Kearney this afternoon in Carton House. “He did some running in Mullingar last week and will continue with that rehab today. The hope is that he will train fully tomorrow.”
Asked whether Payne is expected to be fit to face the English at this point, Kearney indicated that Ireland are unsure.
“It’s a bit of a wait and see. I’d say the expectation is that he will train fully tomorrow, so we’ll know a little bit more by this time tomorrow.”
Kearney confirmed that Cian Healy and Mike Ross are “fully fit and available for selection” after joining Schmidt’s squad for the England clash, with Tadhg Furlong remaining at Leinster to rehab a thigh injury, Rob Herring doing the same at Ulster and Munster’s James Cronin “allowed back to his province” after Healy’s recall.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
