Ireland will be at full strength for this weekend’s Test with New Zealand after a player who originally tested positive for Covid-19 subsequently returned negative tests, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) said on Friday.
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Another person who was identified as a close contact and sat out training on Friday as a result also returned negative tests.
“The player in question and an identified close contact were immediately isolated from the remainder of the group when the issue arose and lateral flow and PCR testing of the entire squad and management was carried out,” the IRFU statement said.
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“The individual who produced a positive test has subsequently had two PCR tests at two separate labs, returning negative results on both.
“The player and the identified close contact have been cleared by public health and the tournament organisers to take their places in the match day squad.
“The Ireland squad will line out on Saturday afternoon as named earlier this week.”
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England captain Owen Farrell was ruled out of playing Tonga last Saturday due to what turned out to be a false positive test.
Ireland assistant coach Simon Easterby said earlier on Friday the drama had not disrupted the rest of the squad.
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“These things are outside our control but it tests our ability to adapt and get on the front foot and we did that today despite a couple of potholes in the road. We had a really good run out,” said Easterby.
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Easterby said they would refuse to allow this to unsettle their focus on securing a third win over the All Blacks in the past five years.
“These challenges are part and parcel of the game, we are not the only team who have had to cope with it over the past few weeks.
“We will not let it derail us and we will focus on the game.”
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Easterby said some players had experienced similar last-minute “hiccups” since the coronavirus swept across the globe early last year.
“The players have become used to living with Covid and been through those moments with their provinces,” he said.
“There have been hiccups along the way, this is a different environment and they are dealing with it very well.
“You know this is the reality and you cannot let it get to you.”
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TEAMS:
Ireland
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Jamison Gibson Park, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Caelan Doris, 5 James Ryan, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter
Substitutes: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Keith Earls
New Zealand
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Samuel Whitelock (captain), 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23 David Havili
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