SM
Bradford vs. Notts County: 16 hrs 59 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Dan Leavy forced out of Ireland's All Blacks clash

:Headline: Dan Leavy forced out of Ireland's All Blacks clash: ID:341726: from db_amp
Josh Van Der Flier comes in for the highly-anticipated Dublin encounter.

Dan Leavy has been forced to withdraw from Ireland's autumn clash with New Zealand due to "general tightness".

Leavy's Leinster team-mate Josh Van Der Flier will start at openside against the back-to-back world champions in Dublin instead, with Jordi Murphy stepping up to the bench.

An Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) spokesman confirmed Leavy had failed a fitness test at Friday's training session.

Rory Best, pictured, believes Josh Van Der Flier will be ready to step up against New Zealand (Paul Harding/PA)

"Dan Leavy had a fitness test this morning and it was decided he was not 100 per cent, so he will miss the match due to general tightness," an IRFU spokesman confirmed.

Leavy failed to train fully on Thursday due to what head coach Joe Schmidt termed "full-body soreness" after last weekend's 28-17 victory over Argentina in Dublin.

Now the 24-year-old has been withdrawn from Ireland's starting XV for the clash between the world number one side New Zealand and the number two-ranked hosts.

Ireland are understood to have worked through a physical training session on Tuesday, in a bid to steel themselves to face Steve Hansen's gritty All Blacks.

There is no suggestion Tuesday's session contributed to Leavy's injury, but skipper Rory Best admitted the only way to prepare to face New Zealand is to "gear up" physically.

"You know you're going to have to be physical against New Zealand, there's no doubt," said Best.

"New Zealand are renowned for the style of rugby they play, and one to 15 they can all play and put people into space and through holes.

"But probably the area of their game that doesn't get as much credit is their physicality, they are incredibly physical in the tackle area and the carry and at the breakdown.

"So you know that if you don't match that, with the talent they've got across the pitch that it's going to be tough. So you've got to gear up for that.

"And I don't know that necessarily that injuries should be a part and parcel of that.

"Sometimes it happens you could have a week with a short turnaround, where you decided to do no contact and minimise training and someone will still pick something up. That's what happens in professional rugby.

"Against New Zealand you've got to gear yourself up for a physical battle, because it's what they bring."

Leavy had been named in Ireland's starting line-up despite still needing to prove his fitness in Friday's captain's run training session.

Schmidt would usually want all his players fit and training fully on a Thursday at the latest for a Saturday Test match, but had handed Leavy extra latitude.

Now though, with Sean O'Brien already out with a broken arm, Ireland have lost another openside in Leavy, with Van Der Flier stepping up to start.

Josh Van Der Flier will now face the All Blacks (Brian Lawless/PA)

Best hailed Van Der Flier's quality in stepping up to replace Leavy, with Ireland's impressive depth specifically at openside underscored by the ease of their late changes.

"Someone like Josh, you know he's going to have been diligent regardless of where he's been sat in the squad," said Best.

"He will know his drills inside and out, so from our point of view it doesn't change things massively.

"Because you're replacing a quality player with two more quality players; one to start and one to come onto the bench."

amp_article__341726 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2018-11-16 16:13:28:
html db last update - 2021-02-20 07:17:27 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Dan Leavy

Click here for more stories about Ireland

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .