Rugby:Ireland have paid a heavy toll for their exertions against the All Blacks, with Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney and Rory Best all ruled out of next Sunday's meeting with Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, writes Gerry Thornley.
Leinster and Ulster have also been hit hard, with Fitzgerald and Best both ruled out for up to six weeks. Fitzgerald sustained medial ligament damage to his left knee, but although it’s the same knee which required an operation that sidelined him from last November until the start of this season, it is a different injury.
Best suffered a fractured cheekbone which will require an operation today. The prognosis on Kearney’s cartilage damage is less clear-cut, as he will undergo exploratory surgery this week to determine the extent of the injury, but he has been ruled out of the Argentinian game.
There was relief to learn that Brian O’Driscoll has merely suffered bruising to his shoulder, and given he is a quick healer the eight-day turnaround should also help his recovery. Likewise with Tommy Bowe and Gordon D’Arcy, who sustained calf strains. All will undergo rest and rehabilitation this week.