Clock ticking for D'Arcy and Ferris

Rugby:Gordon D'Arcy and Stephen Ferris won't be considered for either of Ireland's away matches against Scotland and France in the national team's five match pre-World Cup warm-up schedule this month. The national team will play two further tests at home to France and England in the Aviva stadium as well as a challenge game against Connacht at Donnybrook.

D’Arcy is recovering from ankle surgery (six weeks ago) on an injury sustained in the Heineken Cup final victory over the Northampton Saints in May. The initial medical prognosis was that he wouldn’t require an operation but the problem failed to clear up and required surgical intervention.

Ferris suffered ligament damage to his knee in a European tie last January while playing for Ulster against Aironi and hasn’t seen competitive action since. At a press briefing at Carton House today, Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton confirmed that neither would play in the next fortnight. Both are training, albeit at different stages of their rehabilitation.

“Gordon is tight to make the World Cup. He recovers quickly and is running while bearing his full weight, so is making progress,” McNaughton said today. “With these type of injuries, a week can tell us a lot — players can progress a lot in that time as well.

“Gordon and Stephen face a race against time but are making progress. If there is a likelihood of guys not playing before the World Cup then it’s those two. We’re hopeful that they may be ready for game time, maybe in match three or four of the summer series.

“It’s a preference that they have some game time before they go, but we’ll never say never on anybody. A player could be just a week away from full fitness but it would be

dangerous to play him in a game. We always have that option. It’s our preference that everyone will get some game time.”

There was better news with regard to other long term injury victims, Jerry Flannery (calf), Rob Kearney (knee) and Geordan Murphy (foot/ankle) who are back operating at full tilt. Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll (neck) is completing 80 per cent of the training regimen.

The Ireland team management confirmed that they would ideally like to give the majority of the still to be finalised World Cup squad two and a half to three games in the upcoming tests and will use provincial pre-season friendlies to give players game time if required.

“Flannery, Kearney and Murphy are ready to go. They were involved in contact last week and are ready for game time,” said McNaughton. “Flannery has been out for quite a while now. He has been getting specialist rehab on a one-to-one basis during the summer, but over the last two weeks has kept up fully in training.

“We’re pleased to see him take part in everything from contact to scrummaging. In general the injury situation has been getting better over the last couple of weeks, but we have five matches and need to give guys game time. We’re hopeful that every player will partake in some games.”

The Ireland team to play Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday will be announced on Thursday lunch-time.

Ireland’s pre World Cup fixtures

Saturday, August 6th:v Scotland, Murrayfield (2.15)

Saturday, August 13th:v France, Bordeaux (7.45, Irish time)

Thursday, August 18th:v Connacht, Donnybrook (tbc)

Saturday, August 20th:v France, Aviva stadium (5.0)

Saturday, August 27th:v England, Aviva stadium (2.30)