Rugby: The Ireland management expect Seán O'Brien to be available for selection for the final Six Nations game against England at Twickenham on Saturday. The Leinster flanker was forced to sit out the 32-14 win over Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday after succumbing to a skin infection in his foot.
He was replaced by Munster’s Peter O’Mahony, who put in a big performance on his first start, but is expected to return to the starting XV as Ireland push for a second place finish in London.
"He (O'Brien) was in hospital from Monday right through until the weekend and probably lost a couple of kilos of weight,” said team manager Michael Kearney today. “But he is in good form. The medical staff will obviously monitor him during the week and certainly would be pretty confident he will be available for selection.
"He is training today and that is obviously a very good sign. The infection has cleared up, which is obviously good as well, and he is not on any antibiotics or anything like that. We are pretty sure he will be available for selection."
Rory Best, stand-in captain in the absence of Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll, will take a limited part in training this week as he seeks to recover from bruised ribs sustained in the 17-17 draw with France in Paris eight days ago.
Best played on Saturday and scored Ireland’s opening try before being replaced by Seán Cronin in the 54th minute, as a precaution.
Donnacha Ryan will also have his schedule curtailed this week, having picked up a shoulder injury early in the win over Scotland, though it barely showed as O’Connell’s replacement put in a powerful performance from the secondrow and completed the full 80 minutes.
Rob Kearney cramped up and was brought ashore to afford Fergus McFadden, the fourth tryscorer, some game time, but there is no fear the fullback, arguably Ireland’s player of the tournament thus far, will be unavailable for selection.
After three games in a fortnight, following the postponement of the original fixture against France scheduled for February 11th, Michael Kearney admits the squad could have done with more recovery time.
They’ve played three games in a fortnight and it has been “extremely physically demanding”, according to the manager. “It is tough, but we have been dealt those cards and we have to manage them as best we can. It is not ideal and we would love to have got the week break that we were due and I think that would have made it slightly easier.
"But getting the win on Saturday was hugely helpful in terms of the guys' form and general wellbeing and we will go out and give it our best shot against England on Saturday."
Ireland are almost guaranteed second if they beat England on Saturday, while the hosts could win the competition outright, but would need help from France in Cardiff to make up 39 points on leaders Wales.
Considering the upheaval of losing O’Driscoll for the entire tournament, O’Connell for the final two games and forwards coach Gert Smal to illness, as well as the restructured fixture list, a St Patrick’s Day win in London would mean a respectable end to turbulent campaign for Ireland.
"It is a really exciting challenge for them and I have no doubt that they will be well up for it both mentally and physically come the weekend,” added Kearney.
