Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Ireland have suffered another hammer blow ahead of their quarter-final against Argentina on Sunday as Jonny Sexton has been forced to withdraw with a groin injury. The star goal kicker was injured in the final pool game against France but was earlier in the week declared fit for duty. Sadly for Ireland he pulled up after practice on Friday and has now been replaced in the side by Ian Madigan, with Paddy Jackson coming onto the bench as cover.
After losing captain Paul O’Connell, flanker Peter O’Mahony, and centre Jared Payne to injury, Ireland also lost Sean O’Brien to suspension during the week, severely hampering their preparations for the vital match against the Pumas. Argentina have had their own problems with tighthead prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro injured and Marcelo Bosch suspended, but will be boosted by the news of Ireland’s cursed luck.
IRELAND (revised)
1 Cian Healy 2 Rory Best 3 Mike Ross 4 Devin Toner 5 Iain Henderson 6 Jordi Murphy 7 Chris Henry 8 Jamie Heaslip (capt.) 9 Conor Murray 10 Ian Madigan 11 Dave Kearney 12 Robbie Henshaw 13 Keith Earls 14 Tommy Bowe 15 Rob Kearney
16 Richardt Strauss 17 Jack McGrath 18 Nathan White 19 Donnacha Ryan 20 Rhys Ruddock 21 Eoin Reddan 22 Paddy Jackson 23 Luke Fitzgerald
Scotland meanwhile have had much better news. First choice forwards Ross Ford and Jonny Gray have been successful with their appeal to the judiciary and are now free to play against Australia on Sunday. The duo had initially been found guilty of foul play and suspended for three weeks after a joint tip-tackle on Jack Lam in the match against Samoa, but have now been cleared of any wrong-doing.
The decision draws further questions into the consistency of the citing committee after several suspensions have drawn the criticism of fans and pundits alike. Vern Cotter has not yet confirmed his revised lineup but is expected to the restore the two players immediately back into the starting lineup.
SCOTLAND (to be confirmed)
1 Alasdair Dickinson 2 Ross Ford 3 WP Nel 4 Richie Gray 5 Jonny Gray 6 Blair Cowan 7 John Hardie 8 David Denton 9 Greig Laidlaw (capt.) 10 Finn Russell 11 Tommy Seymour 12 Peter Horne 13 Mark Bennett 14 Sean Maitland 15 Stuart Hogg
16 Fraser Brown 17 Gordon Reid 18 Jon Welsh 19 Tim Swinson 20 Josh Strauss 21 Henry Pyrgos 22 Richie Vernon 23 Sean Lamont
