SCRUM HALF EOIN REDDAN is Declan Kidney’s sole injury worry as Ireland seek to derail England’s Grand Slam bid in Dublin on Saturday.
The Leinster number nine was withdrawn after just one minute of the defeat to Wales at the weekend, after being struck in the face by a full-blooded clearance from Welsh full back Lee Byrne.
Peter Stringer replaced the unfortunate Reddan, who suffered a concussion. His progress is being closely followed by Ireland’s medical staff and he will also be seen by a neurologist during the week, in accordance with the IRB’s ‘return to play’ protocols.
If Reddan is deemed unfit to line out, his spot will most likely be filled by either Stringer or Tomás O’Leary, who has recovered from a back injury.
Either way, Ireland will have their work cut out, as England come to the Aviva on the back of four straight Championship wins and in search of an elusive Grand Slam. “England will obviously be our biggest challenge so far this year,” admitted prop Mike Ross.
The English have been really good throughout the Championship and even when the pressure was on them on Sunday, they had enough self belief to pull through against Scotland. I think that says a lot about them.
The former Harlequins man has been one of the success stories of this year’s campaign, bringing some much needed solidity to a scrum that has long been a problem for Ireland. But Ross is aware that Saturday will probably be the biggest challenge he has faced in a green jersey so far.
Their pack has probably been the outstanding one of the Championship, with the lineout and scrum especially going well. Even though they have lost Andrew Sheridan, they have enough quality players like Corbisiero to bring in so as not to lose any momentum.
Despite the result against Wales, Ireland’s forwards will be happy with their set-piece return, winning all three scrums and the 15 lineouts they were awarded over the 80 minutes. “I thought as a pack we went well,” Ross said, “We talked about upping our concentration levels and the lineouts went really well.”
More of the same will be required on Saturday if the England party is to be spoiled.
