Speaking after his team’s open training session at Greystones RFC on Tuesday, Leo Cullen confirmed that both Hugo Keenan and Joe McCarthy will be sidelined for the coming months. The double blow leaves Farrell without two key figures ahead of the Autumn internationals.
Keenan, fresh from starring on the Lions’ tour of Australia, has undergone hip surgery and won’t be seen again until the New Year. That rules him out of Ireland’s entire autumn series including the Chicago clash with the All Blacks as well as a big chunk of Leinster’s URC campaign.
McCarthy, meanwhile, has had an operation on the foot injury that forced him out of the Lions’ final two Tests. Cullen says the powerful second row is unlikely to return before November, leaving Leinster short in the engine room to start the season.
Keenan’s absence opens the door for others in Ireland’s back three. Jamie Osborne is a leading candidate to fill in at fullback. Osborne was a late call up to Andy Farrell’s Lions squad for the summer series in Australia.
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In the pack for Ireland, McCarthy’s rehab will likely the open the door to more opportunities at number 6, especially considering Peter O’Mahony’s retirement. Ryan Baird, Tom Ahern and Cormac Izuchukwu will likely be in the frame for a decent amount of playing time.
Caelan Doris injury update
It looks likely that Ireland’s captain Caelan Doris will play a role in the November window. Doris, who missed the Lions tour with a shoulder injury, is targeting a return “in and around November”. Cullen also revealed that Garry Ringrose and James Ryan are working to return by mid-October, with the blockbuster URC clash against Munster at Croke Park (Oct 18) a likely target.
Thomas Clarkson, another late Lions call-up who played little in Australia is expected to be available sooner.
Leinster’s season begins with a tough trip to South Africa, facing the Stormers in Cape Town on September 26 before travelling to Pretoria to take on the Bulls. Unlike previous years, they’ll have more of their internationals available after Ireland’s summer tour to Georgia and Portugal.
Cullen admitted the start to the season is “very challenging” with so many moving parts, but insists Leinster can handle the disruption.
It’s far from an ideal start for Cullen’s men, but with Osborne, O’Brien and others ready to step up, Leinster and Ireland will be hoping to ride out the storm until their Lions stars are fit again.