Ireland prop Finlay Bealham excluded from the rest of Guinness Six Nations Injured knee in Saturday’s win Italy.
The 31-year-old Connacht striker was ejected in the first half of his country’s 34-20 win over Rome and was replaced by Tom O’Toole.
Bealham have started all three of Ireland’s games in the tournament so far and their loss was a huge blow to Ireland. Andy FarrellDue to a calf issue, his first choice was the narrow-minded Tadhg Furlong.
Speaking of Bealham right after his victory over the Azzurri, head coach Farrell said: “He sprained his knee, he obviously fell to the ground right away, which says something, right?
“He tried his best to fight. On a hanger in the locker room, he says he’s fine, but he says it all the time.”
Furlong will be attending Ireland’s two-day training camp this week and is battling to return to the fourth round match against Scotland on 12 March, with O’Toole only on hold for a second Test start.
Farrell offered a positive injury update on a number of missing players following the weekend’s win at the Stadio Olimpico that kept the Irishman on the Grand Slam route.
Bealham aside, his optimism was echoed in a statement from the Irish Rugby Football Union on Monday afternoon.
In addition to Furlong, the captain johnny sexton (crotch), centers Garry Ringrose (calf) and Robbie Henshaw (ankle) and scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park (hamstring) were selected for this week’s training group to be ready for Murrayfield.
Ringrose was initially selected to face Italy before withdrawing on the eve of the match.