Henshaw isn't risked this weekend. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“Robbie is really good,” said Schmidt after naming his Ireland XV at St. George’s Park today. “Robbie I think is fit to play, it’s just that he missed the early part of the week and therefore I think there’s a couple of them that we left out.
Partly precaution and partly because they hadn’t had the time running with the team.”
Last weekend saw Ireland state that their “expectation” was that Henshaw would be fit in time to feature against Romania, but that hasn’t proved to be the case. Henshaw’s return to full running has happened slightly slower than first anticipated.
“It was just that at the start of the week, we felt that we had to take it a little bit easier than we first thought,” said Schmidt. “We thought he’d be up and running. He is fully running now and we just felt that we’d rather not push ahead.
Schmidt says Henshaw will be fit to face Italy. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“Soft-tissue injuries can be quite complicated and if you get a re-injury on the same site, then you are really in a situation where his World Cup is in doubt. This way we feel that we’ve taken no risk.
There are times probably to take risks and times where it’s a great opportunity for Darren Cave. Darren played really well in that first pre-World Cup Test match and I think it’s a super opportunity for him and for us, to see him play.”
Schmidt reported that Johnny Sexton, Iain Henderson and Peter O’Mahony all returned to full training this morning, having missed Wednesday’s session with what were described as “knocks”.
“Again, all three of those guys trained absolutely fully today,” said Schmidt. “They’re fit to play and fit to be selected, but today was the first full training that they took part in.”
Schmidt taking 'no risks' with Henshaw's hamstring at World Cup
Murray Kinsella reports from St. George’s Park
JOE SCHMIDT HAS insisted that Robbie Henshaw will be fit to face Italy in Ireland’s third fixture of the World Cup on 4 October.
The 22-year-old missed out on selection for Sunday’s meeting with Romania at Wembley as Schmidt opted not to risk him following a recent hamstring injury.
“Robbie is really good,” said Schmidt after naming his Ireland XV at St. George’s Park today. “Robbie I think is fit to play, it’s just that he missed the early part of the week and therefore I think there’s a couple of them that we left out.
Last weekend saw Ireland state that their “expectation” was that Henshaw would be fit in time to feature against Romania, but that hasn’t proved to be the case. Henshaw’s return to full running has happened slightly slower than first anticipated.
“It was just that at the start of the week, we felt that we had to take it a little bit easier than we first thought,” said Schmidt. “We thought he’d be up and running. He is fully running now and we just felt that we’d rather not push ahead.
“Soft-tissue injuries can be quite complicated and if you get a re-injury on the same site, then you are really in a situation where his World Cup is in doubt. This way we feel that we’ve taken no risk.
Schmidt reported that Johnny Sexton, Iain Henderson and Peter O’Mahony all returned to full training this morning, having missed Wednesday’s session with what were described as “knocks”.
“Again, all three of those guys trained absolutely fully today,” said Schmidt. “They’re fit to play and fit to be selected, but today was the first full training that they took part in.”
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Fit to Play Hamstring Ireland Joe Schmidt robbie henshaw rwc 15 walking wounded