 Burke picked a hamstring inury during training on Monday |
Harlequins fly-half Paul Burke has pulled out of Ireland's 22-man squad for Saturday's match against Wales in Dublin. Burke sustained a hamstring injury in training at the squad's headquarters in Co Kildare.
His departure gives coach Eddie O'Sullivan a bit of a headache as Ronan O'Gara is still recovering from a broken scaphoid.
David Humphreys will start at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, but the fly-half cover is looking distinctly bare.
O'Sullivan could conceivably go outside the 40-man World Cup training panel for cover or use Mark McHugh or Barry Everitt, both who featured at some stage last season in interantional panels.
He could also bring in either Brian O'Meara or Neil Doak, both scrum-halves, but who have traded their wares in the number 10 jersey for club and province.
However, O'Sullivan may stick within the named 22-man squad and use the talented Geordan Murphy to step into the role if required.
The team will be announced at 1300BST on Tuesday.
MMIX
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