IRELAND EXPECT TO have a full complement for training at Carton House tomorrow as team manager Paul Dean reports that Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray take a full part ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash with France.
Murray sat out last week’s open training session in Monaghan with a groin issue, while Sexton has been struggling to shake off niggling injuries in recent months.
Rob Kearney has also been ear-marked for a full return in tomorrow’s run-out in Maynooth, as long as he comes through contact work unscathed today.
Dean deferred to head coach Joe Schmidt when posed queries about the likelihood of Sexton starting a Six Nations Test with limited preparation time, but expressed confidence by pointing to Sexton’s time in camp.
Johnny’s been with us, he was with us in Monaghan, he’s with us all the time. But tomorrow he will train fully and hopefully when he comes through that, he’ll be fine for the weekend.”
Dean also clarified that there was no injury issue over Connacht lock Ultan Dillane, who was omitted from this week’s squad in favour of his provincial team-mate Quinn Roux.
While Josh van der Flier will miss the rest of the tournament with a shoulder injury sustained in Leinster’s win over Edinburgh, Peter O’Mahony is available to play a full part and provide competition for CJ Stander, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip.
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