Injuries mount as Farrell sees stocks depleted

• Published date: 30 June 2022
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

However, one ventures that the management already have more stress than they bargained for heading into Saturday's first Test at Eden Park after Cian Healy suffered a nasty leg injury which Andy Farrell admitted does not look good regarding his participation in the rest of the tour

With Jeremy Loughman not reappearing for the second half despite passing a HIA conducted by an independent doctor after being helped from the pitch - when evidently incapable of walking without assistance - it meant that the tighthead replacement Finlay Bealham saw out the game at loosehead.

"Cian doesn't look too good," conceded Farrell, before adding: "He was in a bit of pain coming off the field. It's settled down a bit so we'll see with him."

Loughman appeared to stagger and fall over when groggily getting to his feet in the second minute after carrying into contact, which made his return in the 13th minute all the more disconcerting to see before he was removed at half-time.

"Jeremy Loughman actually passed his HIA by the independent doctor," said Farrell. "We brought him off as a precaution and brought Cian on and then that happens to Cian, which is not nice, really."

Back-up

Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are set to be the starting frontrow, but if Loughman is ruled out for Saturday's first Test in addition to Healy, the only available back-up would be for Bealham to cover loosehead and Tom O'Toole, after playing the full 80 in the 32-17 defeat by the Maori All Blacks, to cover tighthead.

Bealham has effectively become a specialist tighthead with Connacht, and his last appearance at loosehead, against Georgia in the Autumn Nations Cup in November 2020, merely underlined why this is so.

Furthermore, with Rónan Kelleher ruled out of the tour and Rob Herring seemingly sidelined from Saturday's Test with an unspecified injury, Dave Heffernan will almost certainly be the replacement hooker after playing the first 52 minutes against the Maoris before being replaced by Niall Scannell, who only arrived from a beach in Portugal the previous day.

In addition to all this, James Hume especially, and also Jimmy O'Brien, were helped from the pitch, placing question marks over their availability for the rest of the tour.

"James has a bit of a groin injury that needs assessment tomorrow," said Farrell. "Jimmy came off with a strain. He thinks it's a strain. He's feeling pretty good in the changing rooms."

As to whether further reinforcements may be sought, Farrell said...