Positive news on Leamy injury

THE ankle injury that forced Denis Leamy out of Ireland’s game against Fiji on Saturday is not as serious as at first feared and, at this stage, he has not been ruled out of consideration for Saturday’s clash with world champions South Africa at Croke Park.

This will come as welcome news to the player himself as he has been desperately unfortunate with injuries that have disrupted his progress at crucial stages of his career.

From time to time he has been struck down with serious damage to his knee, shoulder and hamstring and in the circumstances it is a tribute to his fortitude that he still brought his tally of caps on Saturday to 43.

Leamy, who celebrates his 28th birthday on Friday, will undergo rehabilitation this week and while coach Declan Kidney is set to name the side to face the Springboks tomorrow, the likelihood is he will leave a vacancy in the replacement panel to give the Boherlahan native every chance to prove his fitness.

Meanwhile, nine players have been added to the Ireland squad that played against Fiji for Saturday’s game. They are Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Gavin Duffy, Cian Healy, Kevin McLaughlin, Ronan O’Gara, Devin Toner, Dan Touhy, David Wallace.

The Ireland A team to face the Argentine Jaguars at Tallaght on Friday evening will also be announced tomorrow.