Ronan Kelleher Nearing Return for Ireland’s All Blacks Match

Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher is progressing towards an injury recovery that would allow him to play against New Zealand in Dublin on 8 November. Kelleher has been sidelined since being forced off injured early in Leinster’s victory over Benetton on 5 October. Leinster had previously announced that the 26-year-old Kelleher would be out for around four to six weeks following an ankle injury sustained during that match. His absence compounded Ireland’s existing front-row injury concerns, which include Dan Sheehan being unavailable and Rob Herring not having featured this season. However, Ireland coach Simon Easterby expressed optimism regarding Kelleher’s condition when questioned on Thursday, stating: “For sure, he’s doing well,”. Additionally, Connacht wing Mack Hansen and Leinster fly-half Ciaran Frawley missed matches last weekend. Nevertheless, Easterby indicated that Ireland anticipates having a “full deck” of players available for training on Friday. He added: “Everyone was good today, we’re really pleased,”. Easterby further commented on player recovery: “The medics have done a great job on top of the provincial stuff and then the transition into national camp has been seamless in terms of those players coming in with a couple of niggles.” He continued: “So far so good and hopefully we will have a full deck to train with tomorrow and leading into next week.” Regarding specific players, he noted: “[Mack] is progressing really well. Like Ronan and Rob Herring and a few others, they are working incredibly hard and come into camp in a good place and continue that progression.” Easterby’s media appearance marked the first by an Ireland coach since Andy Farrell’s squad selection for the November Tests against the All Blacks, Argentina, Fiji, and Australia was revealed last week. Caelan Doris has been named captain for the upcoming series. Peter O’Mahony, who previously captained Ireland during their Six Nations title victory and the summer tour to South Africa this year, is anticipated to join the squad if he successfully navigates Munster’s match against the All Blacks XV on Saturday, having been out for several weeks due to a hamstring injury. Easterby described the promotion of back-rower Doris as an “easy transition”. Easterby, who will serve as Ireland interim head coach while Farrell leads the British and Irish Lions next year, explained: “He’s been named the Leinster captain and has been in the leadership group for a good while now and progressing in terms of that role within that group,”. He added: “I guess it was an easy transition for Faz [Farrell] to make in terms of giving him that position across the autumn series.” Regarding O’Mahony, Easterby stated: “Pete’s position was that we wanted to make sure he gets game time and he’ll do that this weekend in the Munster jersey and will hopefully come into camp at some point if he gets through the weekend. It was an easy transition I guess.”