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Ireland's Jonathan Sexton goes off injured with Eanna Falvey and James Allen. INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Sexton 'doubtful' for Scotland match as Ireland count cost of capitulation to England

Declan Kidney has plenty of injury concerns after the ‘attritional’ clash with England.

IRELAND OUT HALF Jonathan Sexton was today rated “doubtful”  for the Six Nations clash against Scotland after yesterday’s defeat by England left them with several injury worries.

Sexton went off after half an hour in what an Ireland team statement earlier labelled a “particularly attritional international match” and was replaced by veteran stand-off Ronan O’Gara, who struggled as England won 12-6 at a rainswept Lansdowne Road.

Irish officials said a scan had confirmed the injury, which they said made Sexton “doubtful” for the game away to Scotland on 24 February.

Immediately after the match, Ireland coach Declan Kidney said Simon Zebo would miss the rest of the Six Nations.

This too was confirmed today, with the statement saying: “Wing Simon Zebo is definitely ruled out for the remainder of the championship after fracturing his fifth metatarsal in his right foot. He underwent surgery on the injury today  with an expected eight- to 10-week recovery period.”

Star centre Brian O’Driscoll (right ankle) and lock Donnacha Ryan (back) are both due to see a specialist this week for further review, but neither are ruled out of the Scotland match at present. Lock Mike McCarthy is doubtful for Murrayfield with a knee injury.

Ireland added full-back Rob Kearney was recovering well after suffering a dead leg, while flanker Sean O’Brien, who came off with a tight hamstring, will be monitored throughout the week. In addition to their injury problems, Ireland could also find themselves without Cian Healy after the prop forward was cited earlier for stamping on England’s Dan Cole.

Healy’s case will be before a disciplinary panel in London on Wednesday. England, the only side to win both their opening two matches, currently top the table while Ireland are one of four sides on two points.

- © AFP, 2013

Opinion: The great 10 debate is back, but O’Gara should be discounted

Another Ireland blow as Cian Healy cited for ‘stamp’

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    Mute Dennis Read
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    Feb 11th 2013, 6:23 PM

    Troubled times ahead for Ireland with all these injured.and should start to plan without Healy for his disgraceful stamp on cole,he was lucky the ref didn’t see it and the England players were rightly annoyed.think he his going to get a deserved ban

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    Mute Dave Sherman
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    Feb 11th 2013, 6:46 PM

    A recent study showed that 18% of rugby players were injured at any given time. Yes they get well paid but you have to pay tribute to them all for the abuse/ injuries they get.

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    Mute Elrat
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    Feb 11th 2013, 8:13 PM

    The way sexton was playing Sunday, he’ll be no bloody loss !

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    Mute Siobhan Mackenzie
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    Feb 11th 2013, 11:34 PM

    thats unfair they were ALL BAD !!!

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Feb 12th 2013, 3:06 AM

    We might have won if he’d stayed on. When we got to 6-6 sexton would have gone for the jugular

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    Mute Elrat
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    Feb 12th 2013, 12:33 PM

    Lol

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Feb 12th 2013, 8:25 PM

    Well elrat he couldn’t have done much worse than his replacement could he.

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    Mute Stephen McMahon
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    Feb 11th 2013, 7:44 PM

    Big fan of O’Gara but he should stay on bench and give someone else game against Scotland. We all know O’Garas strengths and weakness. Scotland are poor, good chance to blood someone in a meaningful, but easy, game.

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    Mute Gavin Kelly
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    Feb 12th 2013, 9:00 AM

    ‘Capitulate’ really? …. That word is not at all appropriate. Either you don’t know rugby or don’t know the meaning of the word. How can a 6 point defeat be considered a capitulation? Get real here.
    Those guys gave their all on Sunday and can never be accused of giving up. They certainly didn’t do themselves any favours with poor handling (which was unforced for the most part).

    England were more tactically astute and played to the conditions, happy to give us as much as 65% of possession (at times) because they viewed the ball as a liability and more than wiling to bash us all day and force errors. Critically towards the end of the first half Ireland and England had both conceded 7 penalties, Ireland had conceded the 7 in their own half, England none in theirs.

    The injuries to key players also broke any continuity in our game, ROG hasn’t had enough game time at this level recently and unfortunately it showed a little. In the second half the England line-out was beginning to creek until Hartley came on and shored it up with better throwing. This was a tight game and one we made plenty of errors in but we did not capitulate.

    This championship is still there for the taking, England are certainly beatable. Remember they still have to meet France in Twickenham and a resurgent Wales.
    (Also as a side note; people were writing us off after our second half display against Wales, Wales had a great second half but we played half of it with 14 men!! also Wales had never been beaten 5 in a row at home in their history).
    No need for sensationalism, Keep to the facts and stats and Keep it real!

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    Mute Gavin Kelly
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    Feb 12th 2013, 9:02 AM

    Maybe it was the lure of alliteration was just too great :)

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