Prop Clarkson backed to step up if needed in Edinburgh

With injuries and suspensions, the Leinster third-choice could be next up. 

JOB DONE: Ireland’s Thomas Clarkson and James Ryan celebrate winning. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Simon Easterby has backed Thomas Clarkson to step up to the plate at Murrayfield this Sunday if Ireland’s two senior tighthead props fail to pass fit to face Scotland.

With Tadhg Furlong beset by continuing calf problems which caused him to miss Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against England, Finlay Bealham started his fourth consecutive Test match at tighthead as Ireland kick-started their bid for a third title in a row with a bonus point victory at Aviva Stadium.

Yet with Bealham forced off with an ankle injury after 58 minutes of his 47th Test appearance and now a doubt for Edinburgh, and Tom O’Toole still suspended, the experience levels have dropped considerably with Leinster third-choice Clarkson next in line on the depth chart.

The 24-year-old earned his Ireland debut off the bench against Argentina in November and a second cap the following week as a replacement in the win over Fiji. Clarkson was also called upon to replace Bealham on Saturday and earned the praise of the interim head coach as his side delivered a solid scrum performance against a heavyweight English pack.

Clearly the preference would be to have both Furlong and Bealham available to face the Scots but Ireland will also be prepared for their absences with Clarkson and the uncapped Jack Aungier on alert to take possession of the number three and 18 jerseys respectively.

“I guess that’s part of the challenge, we have to keep growing the squad and we have to keep growing the players in different positions,” Easterby said. “I thought Tom was excellent when he came off the bench today and Jack has been in good form for Connacht. If that’s how the cards fall for us, we’ll just have to deal with it and make sure we’re in a good place to take on Scotland.” 

Of Bealham’s ankle issue, Easterby explained: "We're still unsure what it was or what it is that happened to him. He's moving around okay in the changing room.” 

Lock Joe McCarthy could also be available for the second round having sustained a head knock in training last Wednesday and the interim head coach added: “I guess there's a few battered and bruised bodies in there as well, so there's a few guys we need to check up on, but certainly having those two in the mix will be great.

"But we'll take stock of this weekend and we'll get back together on Monday and find out who is available and who's not.” 

Ireland have beaten Scotland in their last 10 meetings, including seven in a row in the Six Nations, but Easterby warned it would be dangerous to take another victory over Gregor Townsend’s side for granted.

“It’s tough, it’s going to be no different in terms of the physicality and the attritional nature of the game that we saw out there for the first 35 or 40 minutes. But the last few years under Gregor, they’ve brought a huge amount of intent in their attacking play. And they’re a very good attacking team and make it harder for teams to get momentum because of the way they stick in the tackle and they make it slow but certainly the way they attack and the way they approach the game is as good as anyone on their day. It will be a big week for us.” end