Trio To Miss Argentina Match

There are several injuries to the Ireland squad following yesterday’s Test match against New Zealand and three players – Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald and Rory Best – have been ruled out of the final game of the GUINNESS Series against Argentina.

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll suffered a bruised shoulder during the All Blacks game, with his back-line colleagues Tommy Bowe and Gordon D’Arcy picking up calf strains.

All three will undergo rest and rehabilitation on their injuries but, at this point, they have not been ruled out of next Sunday’s game against Argentina. A further update on their condition should be available on Tuesday.

Luke Fitzgerald suffered a medial ligament injury to his left knee during the game and has been ruled out of the final GUINNESS Series Test against the Pumas.

The damage is to the same knee that he injured last November, but this is a new injury and to a different part of the knee. Fitzgerald is expected to be out for approximately six weeks.

Rob Kearney injured his knee and has suffered cartilage damage. He will undergo exploratory surgery this week to further determine the extent of the injury and the period of recovery that he will need. However, the full-back is certainly ruled out of next weekend’s Test.

Rory Best will also sit out the Argentina game after suffering a fractured cheekbone. The Ulster captain will undergo surgery tomorrow and it is expected that he will be unable to play for six weeks while the injury is healing.