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Friday 25 May 2012

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Earls out of Ireland’s showdown with Wales

Keith Earls has been ruled out of Ireland's 6 Nations opener against Wales

Published on Friday 3 February 2012 13:21

LIMERICK rugby star Keith Earls has been forced out of Ireland’s opening 6 Nations match against Wales on Sunday.

Earls was named at outside centre earlier in the week to replace injured captain Brian O’Driscoll but has withdrawn from the squad as his new-born baby girl, Ella Maye, is sick in hospital.Earls and his partner Edel McGee became parents last week.

Earls’ place in the team will be taken by Fergus McFadden with Dave Kearney, brother of starting full-back Rob, coming into the squad.

Ireland hooker Rory Best has said that

Meanwhile, Wales have received a significant double boost ahead of Sunday’s game with World Cup stars Rhys Priestland and Jamie Roberts both declared fit.

But the team announced by Gatland does not include flanker Dan Lydiate, who is sidelined by an ankle problem, while Saracens prop Rhys Gill makes his first Six Nations start.

Lydiate joins Gethin Jenkins (knee), Luke Charteris (wrist), Alun-Wyn Jones (toe), Matthew Rees (calf strain) and Lloyd Burns (neck) in missing the Dublin trip.

WALES - Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Jon Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), George North (Scarlets); Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Bayonne); Rhys Gill (Saracens), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Shane Williams (Scarlets).

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