Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan will miss the second Test against the Springboks in Durban on Saturday, a member of the touring party has told the media.
“Dan suffered a serious knee injury during the first Test and may not play again this year,” he told AFP on Monday on condition of anonymity as he is not an official spokesperson.
Sheehan got injured tackling Bok lock Eben Etzebeth during the first half of a 27-20 defeat in Pretoria last Saturday.
He was replaced at half time by Leinster teammate Ronan Kelleher, who is likely to start at Kings Park with SA-born Rob Herring providing cover on the bench.
Scrumhalf Craig Casey, preferred to vastly experienced Munster teammate Conor Murray in the Pretoria starting lineup, could also miss the second and final match of the series.
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Casey was taken from the field on a stretcher with a concussion after being tackled by Bok replacement RG Snyman.
Murray would be the obvious replacement if Casey is ruled out with Caolin Blade promoted to the bench.
There are a number of other injury concerns for head coach Andy Farrell ahead of the announcement on Thursday of the second Test team.
Centre Robbie Henshaw is going through return-to-play protocols after suffering a head injury at Loftus Versfeld.
Fullback Jamie Osborne (groin), centre Bundee Aki (shoulder), winger James Lowe (thigh) and prop Andrew Porter (hand) are others facing fitness tests.
A win for the Irish this week would tie the series, and end a run of four series losses since their first multi-match tour of South Africa in 1981.
The record four-time world champion Boks will name their second Test matchday 23 on Tuesday for the sell-out Kings Park clash.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Johan Orton/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
