Injured Heaslip and D’Arcy miss final Test

Injured pair Jamie Heaslip and Gordon D’Arcy are out of Ireland’s Third Test against New Zealand.

Heaslip fractured a finger while D’Arcy suffered a calf strain in the three points defeat to the All Blacks on Saturday.

An IRFU spokesman last night confirmed: “Gordon D’Arcy will return home and Ulster centre Paddy Wallace has been called into the squad as cover and will arrive in New Zealand on Tuesday.

“Jamie Heaslip picked up a finger injury and was also x-rayed after the game, showing a fracture to his right index finger. This will rule him out of this weekend, but with the options available within the squad, no replacement has been called for.”

Munster centre Keith Earls, who missed the second test with a pectoral muscle injury, has not been ruled out for Third Test and may link up with Brian O’Driscoll in the midfield. Mike Ross and O’Driscoll both underwent x-rays on facial injuries yesterday but both have been passed fit.

Meanwhile, Steve Hansen’s squad have been hit by several injuries after last weekend’s bruising encounter.

Veteran lock Ali Williams aggravated a troublesome knee injury and has been ruled out for eight weeks.

The Blues lock is set to be replaced in the squad by young Crusaders second row Luke Romano. Already shorn of star blindside Jerome Kaino, Hansen may be without his outstanding number eight Kieran Read who was failed to take the field for the second half after complaining of dizziness.

Waikato Chiefs captain Liam Messam has been called into the squad as cover. The Irish squad transferred to Queenstown yesterday and will remain there until Thursday when they relocate to Hamilton.