Gordon D'Arcy showing his brute strength

Gordon D’Arcy’s departure to New Zealand has been delayed by 48 hours. The Ireland centre picked up a calf strain at a recovery session this morning prior to the Ireland squad departure for New Zealand.

The injury was scanned and to minimise the possibility of any swelling on the flight,  it has been decided that it is more prudent to allow the strain time to recover before he joins up with the Ireland squad in Queenstown.

But far more seriously…Shane Jennings has been called into the Ireland Rugby World Cup squad as a direct replacement for David Wallace who was injured during the game against England.  Wallace suffered a serious knee ligament injury and will require surgery to repair the damage. He is expected to be out for six months.

Cian Healy had taken a knock to his eye during the game and following further investigation has shown an injury to his eye socket.  Medical advice has dictated that Healy’s departure date for the tournament has been put back by four days, when he will then fly out to join up with the rest of the squad in New Zealand. The injury could rule Healy out of Ireland’s first game in the tournament against the USA.