Ireland's Chicago cubs urged to take chance as Hansen sits out trip

Tom Farrell and Jimmy O’Brien should grasp their opportunity, according to assistant coach John fogarty.

COMING TO AMERICA: Assistant coach John Fogarty during a Ireland Rugby media conference at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Ireland bosses have urged injury call-ups Tom Farrell and Jimmy O’Brien to seize their opportunities when they board the plane for Chicago on Tuesday ahead of the Gallagher Cup Test against New Zealand on November 1.

Head coach Andy Farrell brought Munster centre Tom Farrell and Leinster back three player O’Brien into the squad following injuries at the weekend to Connacht duo Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen and a concern over Leinster’s Robbie Henshaw.

Uncapped Munster forwards duo Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson have also been forced out through injury having been named to join the squad for the 11-day trip to Chicago.

Hansen has been withdrawn from the squad after suffering an aggravation of a foot injury in the closing stages of Connacht’s game against the Bulls but both Aki (hip) and Henshaw (groin) have stayed in camp and will travel to the United States with the rest of the squad.

Farrell’s assistant coach John Fogarty on Monday spoke of Hansen’s disappointment at missing out on a big month of international rugby, with Ireland set to play Japan, Australia and South Africa on home soil at Aviva Stadium in the Quilter Nations Series in the weeks following the All Blacks clash.

"It's a huge November and a huge opportunity to play against the best in the world so any player that's not going to make it is going to be disappointed and so are we, we think he's a world class player,” Fogarty said.

"It's exciting, the guys coming in, Tom Farrell and Jimmy. I'm taking some credit for Tom, I coached him at Under-20s with Leinster. I told him I was trying to get him in for a long time now so I'm glad he's here. It's brilliant for him, he's buzzing as well, so hugely excited for him.” 

There is hope Hansen will become available to Ireland later in the month after succumbing to injury in his first game of the season having missed the British & Irish Lions Test series during the summer with a foot injury sustained earlier in the tour to Australia.

Speaking about the injury toll after the weekend of URC action highlighted by Munster’s 31-14 bonus-point win over Leinster at Croke Park, Fogarty agreed it was not ideal but added: “It's kind of the nature of things isn't it. I know New Zealand have lost a couple of players in the second row and it's the nature of the game, I guess.

“Having guys to step in is always unbelievably important. We get to widen the squad a fraction and the opportunity is there for those players now to really show what they're worth in camp, so it will be exciting to see them.” 

Addressing Aki, also injured on his seasonal debut against the Bulls, and Henshaw, who was playing his second game for Leinster last Saturday, the scrum coach added: "I think they're good and again, buzzing for rugby.

“I think everyone is excited to be back in here, the challenge that's there in front of us is huge and let's get on with it, let's get over there and get on with it. That's the mindset at the moment.” 

Fogarty said while there was disappointment for Edogbo (concussion) and Gleeson (elbow) the door would not shut on the two Munster academy products, now aged 22 and 21 respectively.

"We're excited about both those players and a number of other guys. The timing of it is so disappointing for them, it really is. I know Edwin's had a really difficult couple of years.

"They'll get over their injuries and they'll be back, there's no doubt about it. They're both exciting young players that can add in here and that's the reason they've been brought.

"I'm disappointed for them. Like I said about Mack, he's a seasoned campaigner, he's going to be gutted because of the fixtures, because of the excitement to play in a green jersey, to show the people of Ireland what it is they're about.

"Mack's disappointed with that and these young guys, they're going to be gutted. But they're performing well, they've put their foot forward and we're well aware of them. I've no doubt they'll be back in.”