Flannery ruled out of World Cup with calf tear

Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery has been ruled out of the rest of Ireland's World Cup campaign with a tear to his left calf.

Flannery will require four-six weeks rehabilitation before he can return to play, after he suffered the injury in training yesterday morning in Auckland.

"An MRI scan has confirmed the severity of the tear which will require four to six weeks rehabilitation before he is able to return to playing," the IRFU said in a statement.

Sean Cronin has now been named in the replacements for the Rugby World Cup Pool C clash with Australia on Saturday.

Damien Varley has been called up to the squad and he is expected to arrive in New Zealand by Saturday.

Ireland manager Paul McNaughton said: "Obviously it is particularly disappointing for Jerry to have suffered this injury at this point in the tournament. With the fact that he is out for four to six weeks, we needed to make the decision to fly Damien Varley down as soon as possible.

"Sean Cronin will step into the replacements seamlessly this weekend which shows the importance of having experience and depth in the squad.”

Ireland team & replacements (v Australia, Eden Park, Saturday, September 17, kick-off 9.30am Irish time):

15 - Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)

12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)

10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

9 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

1 – Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)

3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)

4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)

7 – Sean O’Brien (Clontarf / Leinster)

8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - Sean Cronin (Leinster)

17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)

18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)

19 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)

20 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

22 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)