Murphy gets a look with Kearney out for up to five weeks

SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP:IRELAND'S SIX Nations chances have been dealt a blow with confirmation that Rob Kearney will play no part against England and is a doubt for the visit of Wales on March 13th.

Coach Declan Kidney yesterday reported that the Leinster fullback will be out of action for three to five weeks after straining the medial ligament in his right knee early on against France.

Kearney will continue his rehabilitation with the rest of the squad in Cork this week, and further details on the length of his absence should be available in 48 hours.

In his place, the door appears to have swung open for Geordan Murphy, who has recovered well from the shoulder injury he sustained playing for Leicester against Bath last September.

The 63-time capped fullback has featured off the bench for the Tigers in their last two games and looks likely to start against Gloucester tomorrow.

Should he line up in his familiar fullback role, the indications are he could come into contention for the number 15 jersey at Twickenham.

“We’ll give him a look,” revealed Kidney. “We’re hoping that he’ll get a start on Saturday. He’s had two sub appearances in the last two weekends, and it was always the plan to bring him into training next week. Whether he has enough time under his belt or not . . . you wouldn’t rule anyone out.”

Elsewhere, there were no fresh injury concerns for Ireland as the squad were put through their paces at Nemo Rangers’ indoor facility in Cork.

Leo Cullen and Stephen Ferris sat out the session due to prolonged soreness, but both should be available next week.

In the frontrow, John Hayes has been given the all clear, while Tom Court’s rib injury is not thought serious.

Lock Donncha O’Callaghan could also come back into contention subject to a meeting with a specialist early next week.

Hooker Jerry Flannery, meanwhile, was his usual self in training despite the six-week ban hanging over him following his entanglement with Alexis Palisson at the Stade de France.

It’s unclear whether Ireland intend to appeal the decision handed down by the Six Nations disciplinary panel.

When asked, Kidney replied: “We will wait to see the judgment like we would in all of these cases, and depending on what is written down we’ll take a look and take best advice.

“You never want to see a guy out for any longer than he has to be. I don’t think it was in any way a deliberate act; it was just a bit awkward. He and us are paying the penalty.”

The post mortem following the French defeat has now come to an end, it seems, and thoughts are quickly turning to the sizable challenge that is Martin Johnson’s unbeaten England.

The lingering feeling from the French defeat was that too many small things went wrong rather than any overall systematic failings. Poor communication, also, was cited as a factor. Unsurprisingly, Kidney maintains he learned more from defeat than any victory, but vowed not to dwell on the reversal longer than is necessary.

“It’s just like every other disappointment in life. You can either sit down and moan about it, or you can take a look at it, try to learn from it and move on. It’s a case of how quickly you move on.

“Whether you lose or you get beaten, that can change your mindset. That was a bit of both last Saturday. We just need to get ourselves ready for the next game in the same way as if we had won.”

Kidney also welcomed the two-week break, and was grateful for some extra days of rest and preparation, though he was also wary of what the break might do for England’s chances.

“The unfortunate thing is that it also allows the English to rest,” he explained. “That’s the situation we found ourselves in last year – when we played them in the middle match they were good and fresh. They will come out with a certain number of points to prove, and with some momentum having won their first two matches.”

“England are never too far off the top,” he continued. “They just have too many numbers and are too well organised to be too far off the top. They’re hard to break down; they don’t concede too many points. A side that doesn’t concede many points is always difficult to get the better of.

“What did we end up last year? A point or two ahead of them at the end of the day. That’s all that was in it.”