Rónan Kelleher fit to face All Blacks as Ireland's hooker crisis eases
The Flier Josh Nash And Oli Ireland’s Dan Fans Game Applaud Der Calvin Jager, Pic: After Van Sheridan/inpho Ronan Kelleher,
Rónan Kelleher is on course to face the All Blacks with Ireland in two week’s time.
The Leinster hooker has been sidelined since injuring an ankle early in the URC season and had been expected to miss the opening November international but assistant coach Simon Easterby issued a positive update from Ireland’s warm-weather training camp on Thursday.
“Yeah, for sure, he’s doing well,” said Easterby.
A superb operator in his own right, Kelleher’s availability is all the more welcome given the long-term unavailability of Dan Sheehan and wider concerns over the hooker position for this window that were accentuated by the lack of game time for Ulster’s Rob Herring so far this season.
However, Herring was among those other ‘doubts’ to take a full part in training this week. Another is Connacht’s Mack Hansen whose season has also been curtailed, while Leinster out-half Ciaran Frawley who missed the province’s last game against the Lions is on track as well.
“Everyone was good today, we’re really pleased,” said Easterby. “The medics have done a great job on top of the provincial stuff and then the transition into national camp has been seamless in terms of those players coming in with a couple of niggles. So far so good and hopefully we will have a full deck to train with tomorrow and early next week.”
On Rónan Kelleher, he added.
“Yeah, for sure, he’s doing well.”
Easterby, who is due to take over as interim head coach during the Six Nations when Andy Farrell takes temporary leave to take over the British and Irish Lions, also confirmed that he has no designs on returning to club rugby for now.
The former Scarlets coach was asked about his plans in light of Graham Rowntree’s departure as head coach from Munster during the week and the speculation over who will take over from the Englishman from here on in.