Sidelined: Richardt Strauss
Leinster and Ireland hooker Richardt Strauss has been ruled out of the Six Nations because of an ankle ligament injury.
South African-born Strauss will be out for up to ten weeks because of the injury, which he picked up during Leinster's Heineken Cup victory at Exeter on Saturday.
Munster quintet James Coughlan, Damien Varley, Ian Keatley, Mike Sherry and Tommy O'Donnell have all, been called up, along with Leinster duo Rhys Ruddock and Kevin McLaughlin.
Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has called up an additional seven players to the training squad in Carton House this week as they prepare for the opening game of the Six Nations and the reland Wolfhounds clash aganst the England Saxons on Friday.
The Wolfhounds squad will be announced tomorrow with the team confirmed later in the week.
Ulster's Roger Wilson was considered but has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Comments
Norm says...
casual racism?
casually thought out comment?
casually recent in your support of the boys in blue? Perhaps in the last 4 years?
casual in your objectivity of comment?
Posted 19:50 22nd January 2013
connaughtabu says...
What happened to the rumour that Cian Healy was to move to hooker - a move I would approve of, if he can throw the ball in?
Blood hell, the Lions could put together a mighty front row then for the summer tour to Oz!
Obviously he would have do a "John Smith" when togging out for Ireland, play hooker for the first half and prop for the 2nd, but he is a young lad and it should be no trouble to him
:-))
Posted 16:51 22nd January 2013
5Lock4ward says...
@3in4, I've just read every post on this article and didn't see anything racist. Would you care to clarify or be more specific? I don't think 'racist' is the right word if you're referring to those of us who posted a comment which reflects negatively on the IRB's game destroying 3 year resident mercenary policy. No fan of any northern hemisphere teams or the Pacific Island squads should be happy about it. Conversely no fan of the 3N teams has to worry about it. And frankly the grandparent clause should be cut back to parent's place of birth only. It's just bad for the game, plain and simple.
Posted 13:44 22nd January 2013
3in4 says...
It really is sickening to see the amount of casual racism posted on these pages. "Ireland of the Welcomes", indeed.
Posted 11:31 22nd January 2013
carpelone says...
leebok
Spot on.
Posted 11:13 22nd January 2013
PatrickH says...
Unlucky Strauss. I wonder what James Downey has to do to get a look in?
Posted 06:29 22nd January 2013
5Lock4ward says...
Shame. Now Ireland will be forced to use an Irishman.
Posted 02:38 22nd January 2013
norm says...
Gleek, cahill
Its been sometime since best has been anything other than solid in the lineout. Sherry way off the pace yet. Best is one off the best all round hookers in the world, and has been for a few years. Out of 8 2011 wc 15, best made 6. That aside and genuinely no disrespect to Strauss, but he shouldn't be there, and in 2 years as an ulster fan I will be saying the same re Jared Payne.
Posted 01:33 22nd January 2013
Qkram79 says...
Great news for the Irish Mike Sherry.
Posted 21:00 21st January 2013
jcahill1 says...
@ gleek
Cronin and Best aren't fantastic line out operators, but both can certainly catch in the loose.
Posted 20:38 21st January 2013
leebok says...
maybe now an Irishmen can play hooker?
Posted 20:26 21st January 2013
gleek says...
Perhaps Sherry might get the 16 shirt. Is improved of late and his core skills are more reliable that Cronin (and Best too!). Won't provide much omph for the bench but won't drop every 2nd ball her carries either and will hit his line-out jumpers.
Posted 16:49 21st January 2013
Michtymauler says...
Jeez Leinster goy... Don't wet yersel mate! He's only injured, not croaked! lol As far as I'm concerned his omission is good for the competition! One less Southern Hemispherian out of a northern hemisphere competition intended for players "from" one of six northern hemisphere countries! It'll now open the way for some Irishman to get a go.. Unless there's another residency mercenary waiting in the wings who in not aware of! Lol
Posted 15:27 21st January 2013
99call says...
unfortunate but Best would have started anyway but he would have been a good impact sub to bring on, Cronin will have to step up to the mark as the main backup hooker
Posted 15:10 21st January 2013
paddy91317 says...
best and Cronan to sub will be the match day squad combo...
Posted 15:06 21st January 2013
leinster_goy says...
what a real shame. Straussy has been one of the unsung heroes of our success and he'll be sorely missed in the next few months. going by his performances in the november tests, ireland will miss him too. perhaps now a chance for Dunders to show what he's made of? he made a pretty impressive cameo in the second half against scarlets, some good ball-carrying
Posted 14:46 21st January 2013