SPEAKING AT A Leinster training session earlier in the week, Joe Schmidt revealed that one of his players was mounting a hefty phone bill.
He said, “There is one of them who rang me last Friday and Sunday, so before and after the Ireland game, just to remind me that he was very keen to play against Zebre if that was possible.”
Seconds before he made the statement, Schmidt had been delivering an update on Luke Fitzgerald’s injury status.
It would not be a stretch to imagine the Wicklow winger, having witnessed the impact Craig Gilroy was making with Ireland, picking up the phone and pleading for some game time against the Italians.
Gilroy and Tommy Bowe combined for three tries against Argentina on Saturday and, a week previously, the Ulster winger and Fergus McFadden ran in five tries against Fiji.
In TheScore.ie open thread, on Monday, that asked for opinions on the Irish team to start the Six Nations in 2013, Fitzgerald’s name did not figure in the conversion.
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Out of sight, out of mind.
Utility back
Fitzgerald’s form suffered in early 2011 when he was asked by Ireland coach Declan Kidney to slot into the fullback role vacated by the injured Rob Kearney.
He missed out on World Cup selection but began the 2011/12 season with vigour and excelled in Leinster’s home Heineken Cup games against Bath and Cardiff.
A niggling neck injury could not be cured, however, without surgery and Fitzgerald went under the knife in May – missing out on the Heineken Cup Final triumph.
With Keith Earls and Simon Zebo as wing options once Brian O’Driscoll and Rob Kearney return to the international fold, the 25-year-old will be focusing on regaining a starting role with his province.
Schmidt, who truly rates the abilities of the 24-times capped international, is eager to get him back playing but understands the waiting game.
“Luke is in great shape,” he said. “If you saw him out there training he is very sharp on his feet and it is just about waiting for the all clear so that he can take full contact again.
“That might be one, two or three or four weeks away but I wouldn’t expect it to be any more than that, if that.” The Leinster coach added:
He has made really good progress and he is ahead of schedule. We got a bit excited that he might be a bit further ahead than that but unfortunately we have to be a bit patient.
“We have to be prepared to do so because he is a top-quality member of our environment.”
The Zebre match is likely to have come too soon and it is doubtful that Fitzgerald will be thrown in away to Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Marcel Michelin.
The realistic target would be a place on the bench for the return clash at the Aviva Stadium or the festive fixtures against Ulster [away] and Connacht [home].
Almost disappointing to lose after coming so close, even though it looked like India would walk it after their innings, but it was great to see us competitive and not completely relying on Stirling
What a magic 40 overs of cricket, brilliant exhibition from both teams, anyone who got down to Malahide was treated. Delighted with that performance, putting up over 220 is a brilliant t20 score in its own right, only it had to be when we were chasing down India’s 4th highest t20 score ever in an inning they had a record breaking 176 run partnership…
You have to feel if Tector stayed in, it would’ve been Irelands to lose with 2 overs or so to go. Was a slow ball, full toss that had to go for 6 toward the end of the 19th…think that was the game there. But Adair can hit them and he defo made it interesting. Delighted Balbo seems to be finding his groove again. Hopefully we can pick off a win or two vs the Black Caps now
@Sam Murray: Bowlers were on the money as per, we really have something decent on the pace/seam front, just need to keep experimenting with the spin attack. As good as our guys were, guys like Hooda & Sanju are just a class above with all that IPL experience so they were always gonna switch it on when they needed.
Annoying too that Malik probably waited till the final over of the entire series to start bowling his best, could’ve done with a few howlers.
@Sam Murray: have to disagree with you on the bowlers, I’m afraid. Too many short, leg-side deliveries that were easy meat for the Indian batters. Against the best in the world (as India are at the moment), the Irish pace bowlers aren’t quick enough to pitch it short, none of which is intended to take away from a fine team performance – you don’t get many games closer than yesterday’s!
My first ever cricket match. Even if it was like a home game for India the atmosphere was absolutely brilliant and even more so after they posted 225 for 7. (fair play to the Irish bowlers for sticking to their process) I was optimistic for the chase… But I don’t think anyone in the ground for one second thought we would take it to needing a 6 to win with the very last ball. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Best Tuesday of my life so far and looking forward to NZ on Sunday fortnight even if the crowd might not be as big or the result the same :))
@John Kelly: haha…..fair play to you John. Didn’t take you for a cricket fan. A game I don’t understand, but will have to try and take in a game some time myself just to try and figure it out!
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Almost disappointing to lose after coming so close, even though it looked like India would walk it after their innings, but it was great to see us competitive and not completely relying on Stirling
What a magic 40 overs of cricket, brilliant exhibition from both teams, anyone who got down to Malahide was treated. Delighted with that performance, putting up over 220 is a brilliant t20 score in its own right, only it had to be when we were chasing down India’s 4th highest t20 score ever in an inning they had a record breaking 176 run partnership…
You have to feel if Tector stayed in, it would’ve been Irelands to lose with 2 overs or so to go. Was a slow ball, full toss that had to go for 6 toward the end of the 19th…think that was the game there. But Adair can hit them and he defo made it interesting. Delighted Balbo seems to be finding his groove again. Hopefully we can pick off a win or two vs the Black Caps now
@Sam Murray: Bowlers were on the money as per, we really have something decent on the pace/seam front, just need to keep experimenting with the spin attack. As good as our guys were, guys like Hooda & Sanju are just a class above with all that IPL experience so they were always gonna switch it on when they needed.
Annoying too that Malik probably waited till the final over of the entire series to start bowling his best, could’ve done with a few howlers.
@Sam Murray: have to disagree with you on the bowlers, I’m afraid. Too many short, leg-side deliveries that were easy meat for the Indian batters. Against the best in the world (as India are at the moment), the Irish pace bowlers aren’t quick enough to pitch it short, none of which is intended to take away from a fine team performance – you don’t get many games closer than yesterday’s!
My first ever cricket match. Even if it was like a home game for India the atmosphere was absolutely brilliant and even more so after they posted 225 for 7. (fair play to the Irish bowlers for sticking to their process) I was optimistic for the chase… But I don’t think anyone in the ground for one second thought we would take it to needing a 6 to win with the very last ball. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Best Tuesday of my life so far and looking forward to NZ on Sunday fortnight even if the crowd might not be as big or the result the same :))
@John Kelly: glad you enjoyed it, hope it’s the first of many!
@John Kelly: haha…..fair play to you John. Didn’t take you for a cricket fan. A game I don’t understand, but will have to try and take in a game some time myself just to try and figure it out!