Three On The Mend For England Game

Eddie O’Sullivan’s Ireland squad will be resting for the next few days before reconvening ahead of their Six Nations encounter with England on Saturday week.

Today’s training session has been cancelled with a rehab session in its place. The Ireland squad will be released from camp this evening, with the replacements from the match against France being released to their provinces and clubs for selection in the Magners League and other competitions.

Ireland scrum half Isaac Boss will also be released to Ulster to provide him with further game-time. The Irish squad will get back together next Sunday evening at the team hotel in Killiney.

It has emerged that out-half Ronan O’Gara, the scorer of all of Ireland’s points in the 20-17 defeat to France, has sustained an ankle injury. He will not train this week but is not rated as a doubt for the clash with England.

Coach O’Sullivan confirmed: “Ronan had an ankle problem. We don’t what happened because he finished the game (against France).

“He must have gone over on it late in the match because he has no memory of it happening. It was a little bit sore after the game.

“We iced it and he was walking around okay, but then on Sunday night at the meal it swelled up quite a bit. We’re confident it’s just a knock and nothing sinister. The swelling has gone down and it’s a lot better.

“But it’s sensible not to put any pressure on it so he won’t be training this week.”

Irish skipper Brian O’Driscoll and scrum half Peter Stringer, who watched Sunday’s game from the Hogan Stand due to hamstring and hand injuries, are also expected to be fit for Ireland’s next Six Nations outing.

“Brian and Peter will be fine for England. Time was against them for France but England won’t be a problem – unless something unforeseen happens.

“The plan for both of them is that they’ll take a full part in training next Monday. This week they’ll continue their rehab,” added O’Sullivan.

There is a full programme of Magners League action for the provinces this weekend:

Fri 16th Feb 07	19:10		Ulster	v	Dragons	Ravenhill	BBCw
Fri 16th Feb 07	19:30		Border Reivers	v	Munster	Netherdale	Setanta
Fri 16th Feb 07	19:30		Glasgow Warriors	v	Llanelli Scarlets	Hughenden
Fri 16th Feb 07	19:30		Leinster	v	Edinburgh	Donnybrook	Setanta
Sat 17th Feb 07	17:30		Ospreys	v	Connacht	Liberty Stadium	S4C

For more on the Magners League click here.