LUKE FITZGERALD HAS emerged as a doubt for Ireland’s Six Nations opener against Wales in Dublin on Sunday 7 February.
The Leinster back sustained a knee injury during the squad’s open training session at the Aviva Stadium yesterday.
28-year-old Fitzgerald, who is an option for Joe Schmidt in midfield or on the wing, was helped off the pitch in pain after twisting his left knee. Fitzgerald must now wait on the results of medical examinations to learn if he will be fit for next weekend’s meeting with the Welsh.
Ireland are set to provide their next medical update on Tuesday, with the hope being that Fitzgerald’s knee issue does not mean a spell on the sidelines.
If the 34-times capped Leinster man is ruled out, it may change Schmidt’s thinking in terms of selection in the backline. The Kiwi head coach certainly has some fascinating conundrums in that department, particularly with a six-day turnaround between the Wales clash and another bruising encounter with France in Paris.
While the Six Nations will have its usual rest weekend following that clash against les Bleus, Schmidt has hinted that the opening two fixtures may see Ireland make non-enforced changes after learning a harsh lesson at the World Cup.
The gruelling pool clash with France partly contributed to Ireland’s failure against Argentina, as a number of players failed to physically deliver again seven days after hammering into the French. Others were not fit to take part.
Given how physical Warren Gatland’s Wales are, Schmidt may pre-plan a number of changes to his team for the meeting with France.
“[Wales'] stat makes them 106 kilos on average per man, therefore we know with the way their combative nature and the way they play that conceivably we may have to make changes,” says Schmidt in that regard.
“We have been in a situation recently where we played a very, very combative Test match [against France] and then the following week it was a little bit difficult to get to the same level within a seven-day cycle, let alone a slightly less than six-day cycle.”
Given Paddy Jackson’s superb form for Ulster he may be in line for a start if Schmidt is to pre-plan two XVs featuring a number of changes, while Stuart McCloskey would have to be viewed similarly. Neither man was released back to their province this weekend.
Conor Murray and Jackson steered a backline of McCloskey, Jared Payne, Dave Kearney, Andrew Trimble and Simon Zebo during yesterday’s open session in Dublin, with Johnny Sexton and Rob Kearney in bibs.
Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Nathan White, Donnacha Ryan, Mike McCarthy, Sean O’Brien, Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander made up the non-bibbed pack, with the likes of Jamie Heaslip and Devin Toner providing opposition.
Nonetheless, it would be a major shock for Schmidt to begin Ireland’s Six Nations title defence without stalwarts like Heaslip, Toner and Sexton in the starting team. Robbie Henshaw will be expected in the XV for Wales too, although that potentially frees Payne to shift to fullback.
What is certain is that the strong individual form of men such as Jackson, McCloskey, Stander and van der Flier provides Schmidt with credible alternative options.
