Oh dear! Paul O’Connell ruled out of Springbok clash

The second row suffered a reaction to a back injury this week and must watch from the stands.

07/11/12 7,964 Views 29 Comments

Image: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

INSPIRATIONAL SECOND ROW Paul O’Connell has been ruled out of Ireland’s Guinness Series opener against South Africa this Saturday.

The lock, who has missed much of the opening period of the season with knee trouble, suffered a back injury in training this week according to a statement from the IRFU.

The union’s statement added that the Munster man, “took a full part in the squad sessions on Monday and Tuesday, but suffered a reaction and will not be fit for selection for this weekend’s game.”

There remains some hope that Ireland’s vice-captain will be available again for the visit of Argentina later this month. O’Connell will consult a specialist on the problem this week before the IRFU release a further update.

Poll: Who would you pick as Ireland captain?

Patrick Lambie to start for Springboks against Ireland

Already a fan? Connect below...

The heat of the action and the heart of the conversation, The Score via Facebook. Just click Like.

Short URL

About the author:

Sean Farrell

@seanfarrell_12

sean@thescore.ie

See more articles by Sean Farrell

Contribute to this story:

Comments (29 Comments)

Ordered By: Popularity

Popularity Date

Leave a comment

Dennis Laffey 07/11/12 #

5 40

With Donnacha Ryan, Chris Henry and Mike McCarthy we have three pretty decent contenders. Let’s see how they get on before declaring a disaster. To be honest I thought that two of these three should have been starting anyway. Paul is short on match fitness after all.

I guess we needed our more experienced heads on the pitch though given the other injuries.

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- THE GRINDER 07/11/12 #
  
  2 12
  
  well said
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- Chris Mansfield 07/11/12 #
  
  2 22
  
  Chris Henry is a fine player who deserves a game, but he’s not a second row. And he’s too short for it to be worth taking a shot at putting him there and seeing how it goes.
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- Dennis Laffey 07/11/12 #
  
  1 7
  
  ooops… I actually meant Tuohy. Younger than the other options but has really shown some form this year.
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
Jim McGourty 07/11/12 #

1 10

These lads have been terrific servants to Irish rugby and, indeed, Ireland. They will be forever remembered but unfortunately we can’t rely on them anymore. A changing of the guard is needed.

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
Michael McCambridge 07/11/12 #

38 79

Paul o’c and others of his vintage are crocked. New blood now and for 6 nations.

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- Chris Mcdonnell 07/11/12 #
  
  17 115
  
  Can’t believe I’m saying this but POC is a mile the best secondrow in the country and most likely the best we have ever had. He is biggest loss of all the injured players
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- Diarmaid Twomey 07/11/12 #
  
  22 86
  
  Why can you not believe you’re saying that? I have no problem commenting on how epic Brian O Driscoll is and just cause I am a Munster man doesn’t change that fact. Quite juvenile to let your provence cloud your player ratings!
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- Mark Noonan 07/11/12 #
  
  1 43
  
  Agreed we need to start blooding new guys anyway so why not now – poc is irreplaceable but he won’t live forever
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- Damian O'keeffe 07/11/12 #
  
  44 11
  
  Munster fans are happy he’s out. we need him fit for Saracens.
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- Damian O'keeffe 07/11/12 #
  
  44 7
  
  Sorry but it’s true.
  BOD missed the last game of the 6 nations but was fit for Leinster the next week. Leinster fans didn’t care.
  
  Ireland are second Munster is first.
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
Contraflow 07/11/12 #

9 20

Got to be Heaslip, he’s undefeated as Leinster captain. I have a feeling he might go for Sexton though as Heaslip can wind up certain coaches with his laid back demeanour.

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
JP 07/11/12 #

3 5

At least you have Strauss. Don’t think the other forwards will be able to handle the brute power of the Boks. The boks have solid carriers and a fantastic fetcher. It’s only a young inexperienced half strength side too!

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
Chris Mansfield 07/11/12 #

15 13

With no BOD and o Rory Best, we’ll be seriously lacking on the captaincy front too.

I guess Heaslip or Dinncha Ryan look like the next best options for that honour.

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
THE GRINDER 07/11/12 #

17 14

it has to be Heaslip and it will be good for him, it might inspire him to play to international level again

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- Chris Mcdonnell 07/11/12 #
  
  27 30
  
  Heaslip is international standard and has been, you need to stop listening to George hook. Look at the last test v the all blacks when he didn’t play. ( paddy Wallace for darcy also didn’t help)
  Loads and loads of graft and support play, Very good at lineout time and doesn’t miss tackles, he scores plenty of tries and while doesn’t do the fancy stuff makes very few mistakes at the base of the scrum.
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- Chris Mansfield 07/11/12 #
  
  1 34
  
  He does seem to have lost some mobility since he bulked up though. It means he’s a different style of player from the player who first emerged into the Irish team. The consequence seems to be that he doesn’t destroy weak teams any more, but he’s more defensively solid when we have to play one of the big boys. Less spectacular to watch, but no less valuable.
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- colm mac chuarta 07/11/12 #
  
  1 10
  
  @ChrisMansfield good point but there’s also the argument that since we didn’t have a natural no.7 for a long time that he needed to do a lot of the ground work, hence he wasn’t always available a a ball carrier.
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
Chris Mcdonnell 07/11/12 #

17 13

Sorry Diarmuid this time it’s not a Munster thing, just Mal O’Kelly was my favourite player for years. So that’s why it was hard for me to admit, paulie is the man.

My all time 5 players favourite players( not the best players just my favourites)
Big mal
Shaggy
Denis hickey
David Wallace
Trevor Brennan

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
MrKnow 07/11/12 #

57 25

We are going to be chewed up by the springbocs, even with a full strength team we can overturn them.

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
ellen gough 08/11/12 #

0 0

He’s been in and out with injury for months now. He’s one of the best we’ve got, and I’m not just saying that as a proud Limerick woman!

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
John Phelan 08/11/12 #

0 1

Maybe not what we’d want but exactly what we need – blood a few young fla’s! It’s exactly what the Autumn series is supposed to be about… The scores are irrelevant in these games if we have introduced some new talent after them…

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
Michael McCambridge 07/11/12 #

3 3

I am

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
Col O'Reilly 07/11/12 #

9 4

shite! well that’s that then! at least now I won’t forget to vote on Saturday

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
Les Rock 07/11/12 #

29 7

What about Leo cullen?

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- Michael McCambridge 07/11/12 #
  
  6 19
  
  a jaysus
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- Les Rock 07/11/12 #
  
  2 6
  
  Im not a leinster fan Michael…please forgive me:-)
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
- James Meehan 07/11/12 #
  
  1 7
  
  cullen is a class act,but that ship has sailed im afraid
  
  Reply
  Tweet | Share | Report this comment
N o toole 07/11/12 #

9 1

Oh oh…

Reply
Tweet | Share | Report this comment

Add New Comment

Log in to comment:

Share This Comment on Facebook or Twitter

Most Popular Today

1	Scotland Yard identifies new leads in missing Madeleine McCann case 32,324 89

2	This is what a bolt of lightning did to a house in Tipperary today… 32,239 32

3	Here’s how ‘healthy’ foods could make you put on more weight 16,827 54

1	Kids have serious ‘pester power’ on family food purchases 3,866 30

1	As it happened: Leinster v Stade Francais, Amlin Challenge Cup Final 29,625 33

2	Stick with me, kid: ROG retires to become Sexton’s coach 19,590 60

3	Things that will make every Irish sports fan feel very, very old 18,896 33

1	8 things that make Irish women completely irresistible 54,160 83

2	16 tragic things that happen at a sandwich counter 34,594 126

3	8 weird phobias you almost certainly have 23,934 56

Trending Tags

DAVID BECKHAM

18 events from 2003 to make you feel ancient

The hairvolution of David R. Beckham in 14 photos

Opinion: David Beckham may have been a limited footballer, but he was still a credit to his sport

GAA 2013

Here are our writer’s predictions for the 2013 GAA championship season

The former Shamrock Rovers player who’s centre-back for Westmeath on Sunday

Carlow boss Rainbow names one debutant as Dessie Dolan starts for Westmeath

GAA

Fennelly emerges as injury doubt for Kilkenny with damaged ankle

8 injured GAA stars we’ll miss seeing in action this summer

15 GAA players who are set for their first championship in retirement

FOOTBALL

Alex Ferguson raring to go in his final Manchester United match

Lampard: Return of Mourinho would be a huge lift

Gus Poyet suspended by Brighton ‘for alleged breach of contract’

RUGBY

Nacewa cherishes special moment of cup triumph before final Leinster game

Open thread: Unload all of your Munster v Leinster grievances here

‘Myself and Leo thought it was fitting for the lads to lift the cup’ – Jamie Heaslip

TEAM:LEINSTER (RUGBY 5)

Cheers Leinster! Connacht players celebrate another year of Heineken Cup rugby

Brilliantly-captured pic of Rob Kearney’s try in the Amlin Cup final

As it happened: Leinster v Stade Francais, Amlin Challenge Cup Final

About Us

Corrections

Report Content

Policies

Please note that TheJournal.ie uses cookies to improve your experience and to provide services and advertising. For more information on cookies please refer to our cookies policy.

News images provided by Press Association and Photocall Ireland unless otherwise stated. Irish sport images provided by Inpho Photography unless otherwise stated. Wire service provided by Associated Press.

Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for user created content, posts, comments, submissions or preferences. Users are reminded that they are fully responsible for their own created content and their own posts, comments and submissions and fully and effectively warrant and indemnify Journal Media in relation to such content and their ability to make such content, posts, comments and submissions available. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Switch to Mobile Site

Tags

Tags

Oh dear! Paul O’Connell ruled out of Springbok clash

The second row suffered a reaction to a back injury this week and must watch from the stands.

About the author:

Contribute to this story:

Read next:

Embed this post

Email “Oh dear! Paul O’Connell ruled out of Springbok clash”.

Feedback on “Oh dear! Paul O’Connell ruled out of Springbok clash”.

Report a Comment

Comments (29 Comments)

Add New Comment

Read Next:

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Most Popular

Most Commented

Download our app

Most Popular Today

Trending Tags

About Us

Follow Us

Corrections

Policies

Blow the whistle or share a story

Please log in to comment

Please log in with facebook to Share

Please log in

RSS feeds available here:

Report an error, omission or problem:

Create Email Alert

TheJournal.ie Facebook Edition