Rugby:The Ireland management is continuing to monitor Brian O'Driscoll's ankle injury but the captain is no longer the primary concern ahead of the autumn internationals against South Africa and Argentina.
Ulster hooker Rory Best has not travelled down to meet up with Declan Kidney’s squad, as yet, because of a neck injury, while Leinster prop Cian Healy will see a specialist this week to assess a shoulder complaint.
His provincial team-mates Eoin Reddan and Gordon D’Arcy both sat out training at Carton House this morning, with a mild knee knock and a dead leg respectively. Neither is a serious concern.
The good news coming out of the camp is that the Munster trio of Paul O’Connell, Keith Earls and Ronan O’Gara, as well as Ulster backrow Stephen Ferris, are all fit to take part in training this week.
It has only been 48 hours since O’Driscoll rolled his ankle in the comprehensive league win over Cardiff Blues on Saturday and last night the IRFU revealed “the damage was less severe than anticipated”.
Best's injury prompted management to add Leinster hooker Seán Cronin to the training squad last night, while Michael Bent, a tighthead prop fresh off a plane from New Zealand was also included.
The former Taranaki frontrower may lineout for Leinster against Ospreys this weekend, in a bid to get him up to speed ahead of the visit of the Springboks to the Aviva Stadium on Novemner 10th.
An Ireland XV will play Fiji at Thomond Park on November 17th before Argentina are hosted back in Dublin a week later.
