Ireland lose loosie, star in race to face Boks

Ireland coach Andy Farrell will be sweating over the availability of hooker Dan Sheehan for next week’s clash against the Springboks, with another key forward already ruled out.

The skipper faces an anxious wait to be passed fit to tackle the Boks in the Nations Championship on Saturday week.

Sheehan suffered a concussion during Ireland’s 42-12 thrashing of Argentina last Friday and the 28-year-old, standing in for the injured Caelan Doris, will undergo a 12-day return-to-play protocol.

Sheehan, who would be a huge loss if he failed to recover, will miss this Saturday’s Test at the Aviva Stadium with Fiji. Leinster teammate Ronan Kelleher is likely to start in his place.

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Sean Jansen, though, will play no further part in the tournament, the New Zealand-born loose forward injured his knee early in the second half and has been sent back to his province Connacht to recover.

Josh van der Flier, who came on for Jansen, and winger Rob Baloucoune “will continue to be monitored” for ankle and cramp respectively, said Irish Rugby in a statement on Monday.

However, veteran centre Bundee Aki, who had to withdraw shortly before the Pumas Test because of illness, is set to return to training on Tuesday. Farrell will name his lineup on Thursday.

The Irish are third in the northern hemisphere Nations Championship standings, Fiji are bottom of the southern section and without a point.

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– AFP

Photo: Evan Treacy/Getty Images