{"id":23930,"date":"2021-11-13T08:16:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-13T13:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23930"},"modified":"2021-11-13T09:18:44","modified_gmt":"2021-11-13T14:18:44","slug":"ireland-vs-all-blacks-back-on-today-after-covid-19-false-alarm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23930","title":{"rendered":"Ireland vs All Blacks Back On Today After Covid-19 False Alarm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Ireland will stick with the 23-man squad announced by head coach Andy Farrell on Thursday (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ireland\u2019s players have been given the all-clear to face New Zealand on Saturday after a \u201cpotential positive case\u201d of coronavirus proved to be a false alarm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andy Farrell\u2019s entire squad and management team underwent additional PCR testing on Friday following the news that one player had returned a positive result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The individual and an identified close contact were immediately isolated before further examinations were carried out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He subsequently returned two negative tests and has been given permission by public health officials to face the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland will therefore stick with the 23-man squad announced by head coach Farrell on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe individual who produced a positive test has subsequently had two PCR tests at two separate labs, returning negative results on both,\u201d read a statement from the Irish Rugby Football Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe player and the identified close contact have been cleared by public health and the tournament organizers to take their places in the matchday squad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

England captain Owen Farrell \u2013 son of Ireland coach Andy \u2013 last week missed his country\u2019s win over Tonga following a positive result which later turned out to be false.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland had placed back-up players on standby for the visit of the Kiwis and were prepared to tweak their line-up if required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet defense coach Simon Easterby said during his Friday afternoon press conference that there was no danger of the fixture being cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confirmation the Irish would not be forced into personnel changes came around seven-and-a-half hours after news of the potential positive was first announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Easterby backed the squad to handle the disruption and not use it as an excuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe important thing is we stay focused and don\u2019t allow the little things that happen derail us, that we stay focused,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the players have learned to cope with it over the past two years, they\u2019ve been through those moments with the provinces, there\u2019s been hiccups along the way in different environments and they\u2019re dealing with it really well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of those challenges that may come up in stages over the next couple of years and this is just another one of those we have to adapt to and make sure we don\u2019t use it as an excuse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland, who thumped Japan 60-5 last weekend, have tasted just two victories in 32 previous meetings with the All Blacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ian Foster\u2019s free-scoring Kiwis have won 12 of 13 fixtures in 2021 and set world records for most Test tries (96) and points (675) in a calendar year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf it wasn\u2019t challenging already, it gets more challenging when you deal with certain things that are outside your control,\u201d added Easterby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut, I guess that\u2019s part of the challenge, the game certainly won\u2019t run all our way, it won\u2019t run smoothly all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had a couple of potholes in the road today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland complete their autumn campaign at home to Argentina a week on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>