Ireland handed huge fitness boost ahead of Springboks clash
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Ready to go.
Ireland have been handed a significant fitness boost ahead of their Rugby World Cup clash with the Springboks on Saturday – with tighthead prop Finlay Bealham declared fit for the massive encounter.
Bealham was forced off just 10 minutes after coming on as a half-time replacement and subsequently failed his HIA following a nasty bang to the head.
But he’s been given the all-clear by medics to face the world champions this week as Ireland face their toughest test yet at the World Cup.
“He was obviously taken off the field at the weekend and failed his [HIA],” scrum coach John Fogarty said.
“He’s subsequently passed his tests and he’s perfect, he was in a scrum today and he’s good to go, symptom-free.
“Our medics and World Rugby have cleared him fit to play so we’re delighted to have a full [clean] bill of health.”
Elsewhere, both Jack Conan and Dan Sheehan took part in training today, and will both in contention for selection the weekend.
“I saw [Dan Sheehan] in a scrum today, so I was very excited to see him in scrums,” Fogarty said of Sheehan.
“We did some timing in our scrums, some drop-ins, and Dan took part.
“It’s great to see him back involved. He’s a player who’s returning so we’ll do a bit more tomorrow and see how he is.”
Ireland name their team on Thursday afternoon.