Ireland full-back Rob Kearney will have a scan on a hip injury
Monday 28 September 2015 15:49, UK
Ireland are sweating on the fitness of full-back Rob Kearney ahead of their next World Cup match against Italy at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday.
The 29-year-old requires a scan after he suffered a blow to the hip as he scored a try during the 44-10 win over Romania at Wembley.
Having comfortably won their first two matches, Ireland are closing in on a quarter-final berth, but it would be a blow if their Lions full-back is forced to the sidelines.
Team manager Mick Kearney said on Monday: "Rob may have suffered a gluteal strain and will have a scan in Guildford later today.
"We're really going to have to wait and see what the results of the scan are like later today, so I'd say it could be 24 to 48 hours before we have a definitive view on whether he'll be available at the weekend or not."
Ireland wing Tommy Bowe added: "Rob coming off is something you don't want to see.
"But I'm sure he's confident it's not going to be something too strenuous, so we'll just have to wait and see.
"Fingers crossed he's going to be fine, but it would be a massive disappointment if he missed out.
"I don't think we'll worry too much until he gets the medical feedback on it, though."
If Kearney misses out, Munster man Simon Zebo would be favourite to fill in, and Bowe thinks he would be a more than capable deputy.
"We'd all back Simon to get the job done, absolutely," said Bowe.
"Simon is pushing Rob hard for his place there at full-back. He's a very exciting player and he showed he's capable of doing the basics very well, as well as being able to light it up.
"So I think it just shows, if anyone were to drop out of the match squad, we've got guys to come in and put their hand up and do a great job for the team."
Regarding some of the other Ireland backs, Keith Earls is expected to complete the head-injury protocols on Tuesday after passing a pitch-side assessment during Sunday's Wembley match.
And Connacht centre Robbie Henshaw will train fully this week after recovering from a hamstring problem, and could be back in the midfield for the Italy encounter.
