David Corkery suffered a devastatingly personal blow when he was forced to withdraw from the Irish squad for the remainder of the World Cup tournament. The Cork Constitution flanker finally succumbed to a back injury and the Irish team management had no option but to inform the Rugby World Cup organisers.
Under the rules, Ireland are entitled to a replacement and as a result Shannon and Munster flanker Alan Quinlan trained with the national squad at Donnybrook under lights last night.
Corkery's loss is a serious blow to the Irish squad, primarily because of his excellent early-season form and the fact that fellow blindside flanker Trevor Brennan misses the next two games through suspension.
There was no indication of Corkery's plight outside of the squad and the news comes as a major surprise. Corkery had yet to play a game in the competition but, given Brennan's suspension, would have been favoured for a starting role not only against Romania but also in the play-off in Lens should Ireland win tomorrow.
The Constitution player was due to play on the flank in tomorrow night's final Pool E game against Romania. The Irish team management has left a vacancy in the interim and will announce a replacement at a press conference later this morning.
The 25-year-old, 16 st, 6 ft 3 ins Quinlan was an original selection in coach Warren Gatland's Irish squad for the World Cup pre-qualifying games against Georgia and Romania at the end of last year, but had to withdraw because of a shoulder injury. The Shannon flanker said: "Obviously I am sorry for David Corkery and not happy at the circumstances in which I find myself joining the squad. But I must take my chance now that I am here." It seems unlikely that Quinlan will be thrust into tomorrow's game, instead the probability is that Andy Ward will be called upon to operate on the blindside.
A statement was released last night explaining the Corkery situation. It read: "RWC '99 were informed this morning that David Corkery is unfit to continue participating in the tournament. This is due to a back problem that has deteriorated over the past 48 hours. He is replaced by Alan Quinlan of Shannon and his replacement in the Ireland side to play Romania will be confirmed at the Irish management press conference today". Meanwhile, Jeremy Guscott will win his 65th cap tomorrow after all. The England centre, originally dropped for the Pool B game against Tonga at Twickenham, replaces his Bath club-mate Phil de Glanville, who damaged ribs against the All Blacks last weekend.
In Scotland another centre's World Cup came to a permanent halt when New Zealand-born three-quarter John Leslie announced that his sprained ankle would sideline him for the rest of the competition.
The loss is a major blow for the Scots, Leslie's midfield link with Gregor Townsend and Alan Tait helping them to 16 tries in their unexpected Five Nations triumph last spring. His absence against Uruguay last Friday was a key reason for Scotland's lacklustre display behind the scrum.
Leslie will have an operation next week and the Scots will delay naming a replacement until they have played Spain on Saturday. Craig Joiner and Graham Shiel are the favourites.
