Hooker Flannery on his way home with torn calf

QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - SEPTEMBER 04: Jerry Flannery looks on during an Ireland IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 training session at Queenstown Events Centre on September 4, 2011 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images)

Jerry Flannerys' World cup has been cut short

Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery suffered a tear of his left calf during Ireland Squad training yesterday morning in Auckland. An MRI scan has confirmed the severity of the tear which will require four to six weeks rehabilitation before he is able to return to playing.

Sean Cronin has been named in the replacements for the Rugby World Cup Pool C clash with Australia on Saturday following the withdrawal of Flannery. A decision has been made to call up Damien Varley to the squad and he is expected to arrive in New Zealand by Saturday.

Commenting on the injury to Flannery, Ireland Team Manger – Paul McNaughton said: “Obviously it is particularly disappointing for Jerry to have suffered this injury at this point in the tournament. With the fact that he is out for four to six weeks, we needed to make the decision to fly Damien Varley down as soon as possible. Sean Cronin will step into the replacements seamlessly this weekend which shows the importance of having experience and depth in the squad.”

Starting XV (v Australia, 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool C, Eden Park, Saturday, September 17, kick-off 8:30pm local time/9:30am Irish time):

15 – Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)*
14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 – Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 – Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
9 – Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
1 – Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)*
2 – Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 – Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 – Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 – Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 – Sean O’Brien (Clontarf / Leinster)*
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 – Sean Cronin (Leinster)*
17 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 – Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 – Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
21 – Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 – Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

*Denotes RWC Debut