CIAN HEALY AND EOIN Reddan are both available for selection in Ireland’s clash against Scotland on Saturday in the final round of the Six Nations.
Captain Rory Best sat out training at Carton House today with a calf issue, but Ireland say they expect him to train on Thursday and be ready for the weekend’s action.
Loosehead prop Healy and scrum-half Reddan both missed last weekend’s win over Italy, with Healy pulling out of the matchday squad on Friday due to a hamstring strain.
Reddan was not named in the matchday group after suffering a strain to his calf. Both Leinster players have now recovered and trained fully in an intense Ireland session at Carton House earlier today.
Finlay Bealham made his debut off the Ireland bench last weekend as Healy’s late replacement, while his Connacht teammate Kieran Marmion won his fifth cap as a substitute in Reddan’s absence.
With Jack McGrath and Conor Murray favourites to continue at loosehead and scrum-half in the starting XV, head coach Joe Schmidt must decide whether to re-integrate Healy and Reddan back onto his bench for the Scotland game.
Best’s calf issue complicates the selection somewhat, though he will retain his place in the side if he recovers in time to train on Thursday. Sean Cronin and Richardt Strauss are standing by in case the Ulsterman is ruled out.
“Eoin Reddan returned to training today,” said assistant coach Richie Murphy at Carton House this afternoon. “Cian Healy trained yesterday and today as well. Both guys are fit and ready for selection this week.
Rory Best sat out of training today. He trained yesterday and came off. He was a little tight in the calf at the end of training. It was judged not to train him today and he should be ready to train on Thursday.
“Not really [concerned for Best for the weekend], the medics feel like he should be fine and ready to go for Thursday.”
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