Tadhg Furlong and Tom O'Toole back training and in the frame for Fiji with Ryan Baird ruled out
Ireland looking to make a number of changes for Flying Fijians
Tadhg Furlong and Tom O'Toole were back training with Ireland today and both are in the frame to play against Fiji on Saturday in Dublin.
Ryan Baird, who picked up an injury almost immediately following coming on a sub against Argentina last week has been ruled out.
"Tadhg was good, full of energy," said Ireland Scrum Coach John Fogarty. "I’d say bullish, he’s eager to get back and excited to be in and around the team again. It’s lonely when you’re outside of that.
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"So, yeah, he got through the session today and he will be assessed as we go along. He’s excited to be in and around the team, and we are excited as well.”
It had been hoped Furlong would squeeze in under the wire in time for last week's game against Argentina but that was not to be.
“They won’t mess about with the players. He’s back on time. He’s ready to go. If he was back last week and ready to go, he would have been up for selection and then the coaches will decide.
“Both him self and Tom were back in training and he has got through that session today."
There will be some changes for Fiji, Sam Prendergast will play a part, Bundee Aki is slated to return while Conor Murray and Craig Casey are fighting it out for the no9 shirt.
“I think it’s important that we are doing right by everyone in our side, continuing to look for a performance.
“Fiji have improved. We played them two years ago and they’ve certainly improved. You see that through the Wales game, they didn’t quite have the full side out in that Scotland match, but they’re a dangerous side.
“So, it’s important that we are focusing on developing a good performance. Andy (Farrell) and ourselves will select accordingly.”
And with Finlay Bealham being given a well deserved rest Thomas Clarkson will most likely be given a chance to earn a second cap.
“I was delighted. We went on an EI tour a couple of years ago, he is a great character. He does a few things really well at scrum time.
“He came in as a guy who we were looking at for the future and circumstances allowed him to go onto the field last.
“It was amazing, Cian getting 133 (caps) and Tom getting one. It was an incredibly exciting week to be a scrum coach and watch both those things happen.
“Tom did a good job. He will certainly take his learnings. It’s always exciting when you get another Irish tighthead onto the field.
“Hopefully he will take everything he has learned and push on. I’ve said it before, that’s what we need. We want every front-rower to step up. And Tom has stepped up in this camp and I’m delighted he got capped.”
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