Ulster flanker Chris Henry will play no further part for Ireland in the November Internationals, while Joe Schmidt has beefed up his squad to provide extra cover ahead of the clash with Australia this weekend.
Henry suffered a torn hamstring during the victory over Samoa on Saturday and was replaced by Sean O’Brien and he is expected to be sidelined for between four to six weeks. The injury puts an end to his participation in the November series and he will now face a race against time to be fit for Ulster’s Heineken Cup double header against Benetton Treviso next month.
Although he was on crutches following Saturday’s win after a knock to his calf, Tommy Bowe is expected to be fit in time to face the Wallabies, but Luke Fitzgerald has been summoned to the squad to provide extra cover on the wing, with Leinster team-mate Shane Jennings also coming into the squad in the wake of Henry’s absence.
Having played no part on Saturday, Jonathan Sexton is expected to return to the starting XV against the Wallabies, who didn’t look half-bad when putting 50 points on Italy at the weekend, a sight that no doubt prompted cries of ‘strewth’ amongst nervous Irish supporters ahead of Saturday evening.
