Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell has confirmed that Dan Sheehan, David Kilcoyne, and Jack Conan will miss Ireland's opening Rugby World Cup game against Romania this Saturday.
Sheehan, one of Ireland's star performers, went off in the warm-up game against England. The Leinster star stayed behind in Dublin, while the rest of the team trained in Portugal and played against Samoa days later.
There have been fears over the last few weeks that Sheehan would not play in any of Ireland's pool games, but the prognosis is more than good.
Sheehan and Conan are also close to a return, while Munster prop Kilcoyne is close to overcoming his hamstring troubles.
Although the trio is close to a return, the game against Romania will come too soon.
O'Connell has given an injury update on the trio.
“Everyone’s going well; there are a few guys still finishing their rehab and they won’t be involved at the weekend," said the Ireland legend on Tuesday.
“But by and large, we’re close to a full bill of health.
Paul O’Connell confirms that Dan Sheehan, Jack Conan and Dave Kilcoyne will not be fit to face Romania. pic.twitter.com/Tmj0no1oP2
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) September 5, 2023
Although Conan, Sheehan, and Kilcoyne will miss the game on Saturday, O'Connell believes that the Tonga game on September 16 will be a more likely return.
“Dan and Jack Conan (will not be involved). David Kilcoyne as well is struggling a little bit but should be OK next week," he added.
Ireland heads into the Rugby World Cup with two goals: getting past the quarter-finals for the first time and winning the Webb Ellis Trophy for the very first time.
O'Connell, who played for Ireland in previous World Cups, believes that Ireland will need to prepare in the best way they can while continuing to evolve as a rugby team.
“One of my experiences would have been in 2007, being overtrained a little bit and probably got the hotel wrong, got the food wrong a little bit, and fueling is such a big part of preparation," said the Limerick man.
“Your temptation as a player is to train as hard as you can, but you need to leave something in the tank a little bit as well. And your temptation as a coach is the same, I would say.
“The other thing is sometimes you feel like you come to a World Cup and you need to reinvent the wheel a little bit.
“We want to evolve and get better for sure, but it’s not about reinventing anything, and those are my two lessons.
“I think Andy, even though he wasn’t involved with Ireland, would have had similar experiences and would be trying to put a similar strategy in place.”
Ireland's team will be revealed on Thursday.
The game against Romania starts at 2.30 pm.
See More: 2023 Rugby World Cup, Ireland, Rugby
