Horan misses Ireland training

MARCUS HORAN missed Ireland team training time yesterday in the University of Limerick as the squad began preparations for the Guinness Series games this November.

Horan is undergoing a series of tests and investigations that will be completed this week. His availability for the Guinness Series will be determined after the tests are completed and the results known.

There were no other major injury concerns for the players that came into camp, but several players were rested as a precaution or only took a partial part in training under the supervision of the Ireland team medical staff.

Those who did not take part in training included Gordon D’Arcy, who rested his calf strain. Rob Kearney did rehabilitation training on his hamstring strain that he picked up last week as did Brian O’Driscoll, who has a tight calf. Jerry Flannery and Tony Buckley also underwent rehabilitation on the field as they recover from calf injuries.

Tommy Bowe, Leo Cullen and David Wallace sat out the session as they recover from minor knocks picked up over the weekend. None of the injuries are considered enough to rule them out of selection next week.

The Ireland A team to play Tonga and a 30-man squad for the test match against Australia will be announced at the end of the camp on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile Davon Raubenheimer has been brought in to the South Africa starting line-up for Friday night’s match against Leicester at Welford Road.

Raubenheimer takes the place of Heinrich Brussow who has been withdrawn after Test number eight Pierre Spies had to pull out of the tour squad with a finger injury.

Raubenheimer will wear the number seven jersey on Friday with Dewald Potgieter switching to six.

Spies has been replaced in the Springbok party by Jean Deysel, who has been included on the bench for Friday’s match.

“Losing Pierre is a blow but we are fortunate to have strong back-up players in the squad who are familiar with how we want to play,” said Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.

South Africa’s tour opener against the Tigers is followed by a Test meeting with France on November 13.

Elsewhere James Hook has been backed to make a successful adaptation as Wales’ new full-back.

The Ospreys star will step in for his injured colleague Lee Byrne when Wales launch their autumn Test campaign against New Zealand in Cardiff on Saturday.

Hook, normally a fly-half or centre, has started on one previous occasion in the number 15 shirt during his 33-cap international career.

But Wales assistant coach and kicking specialist Neil Jenkins believes the 24-year-old will relish his opportunity.

“James has played a lot of rugby at 10, so he understands the space and what 10s are looking for. I am sure he will be fine,” said Jenkins.

New Zealand boss Graham Henry names his starting line-up today.

Martin Johnson will name one of the most inexperienced England teams in memory to face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday – and that is despite the return of Jonny Wilkinson.

England’s likely starting XV to tackle the Wallabies contains 11 players with 13 caps or less, five of whom can count their international appearances on the fingers of one hand.

The average number of caps per man is just 18.

Johnson’s plans for the autumn Investec Challenge Series have been ravaged by injuries and his team announcement was delayed to give Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley every chance of recovering from a hamstring strain.