Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong is on track to return for Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series match against Fiji after missing the opening two rounds due to a hamstring injury. Furlong trained fully with the squad on Tuesday and is expected to be available for selection, with scrum coach John Fogarty describing him as “full of energy” and eager to rejoin the team. However, second-row Ryan Baird has been ruled out after suffering a concussion in the 22-19 win over Argentina.
Ireland’s front-row options are also bolstered by the return of prop Tom O’Toole, who is available after recovering from a head injury sustained against New Zealand. Looking ahead to the weekend’s match in Dublin, Fogarty noted that Fiji have made significant improvements since their last visit in 2022, and stressed the importance of continuing to focus on performance as Ireland prepares for a potentially rotated squad, with the more high-profile fixture against Australia looming on November 30.
Fogarty also highlighted Fiji’s potential threat, referencing their strong win against Wales (24-19) and a less convincing performance in a 57-17 loss to Scotland. The focus for Ireland remains on selecting the right team and delivering an improved performance.
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