Injured trio return as Italian job looms

PAUL O’CONNELL, Tommy Bowe and Gordon D’Arcy all returned to training yesterday as Ireland began final preparations for this Sunday’s must-win World Cup Pool C game against Italy.

All three players missed last weekend’s 62-12 romp over Russia, having picked up knocks in the previous week’s famous win over Australia.

D’Arcy, though, took a full part in yesterday’s training session at the famous old Carisbrook Stadium in Dunedin and was said by the Irish camp to have done so without any reaction as he continued his recovery programme from a hamstring strain.

O’Connell also suffered a hamstring strain while Bowe suffered a calf strain against the Wallabies and both took part in light training yesterday with a view to stepping up their participation at today’s session.

The three players who suffered knocks in the Russia game were all kept out of the fray yesterday but after a further 24 hours rest Rob Kearney (bruised knee), Keith Earls (bruised leg) and Sean O’Brien (bruised arm) were set to return to training this morning.

Declan Kidney names his side to face Italy in the early hours of Friday morning, Irish time.