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Flanker CJ Stander is in a fight to be fit before the end of Ireland\u2019s Guinness Six Nations campaign due to suspected facial fractures.<\/p>\nFlanker CJ Stander is in a fight to be fit before the end of Ireland\u2019s Guinness Six Nations campaign due to suspected facial fractures.<\/p>\n
Ireland expect Stander to be sidelined \u201cfor up to four weeks\u201d following the nasty-looking facial injury he sustained in Saturday\u2019s 32-20 home loss to England.<\/p>\n
Lock Devin Toner, wing Keith Earls and center Garry Ringrose are all fitness doubts for Saturday\u2019s trip to face Scotland at Murrayfield, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) confirmed in a statement.<\/p>\n
Munster star Stander will hope he is able to return in time for Ireland\u2019s final two Six Nations matches, against France and Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cCJ Stander has a facial injury that could rule him out for up to four weeks,\u201d read the IRFU statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeith Earls suffered a hip pointer injury and will be managed across the early part of the week.<\/p>\n
\u201cDevin Toner aggravated an ankle injury and Garry Ringrose reported some hamstring tightness. Both will be further assessed by the medical team over the next 24 hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cAndrew Conway presented with some calf tightness following training last Thursday and will rehab in Munster this week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stander\u2019s absence is a blow to head coach Joe Schmidt, with the South Africa-born back-rower proving a physical mainstay across 29 Ireland caps since his 2016 debut.<\/p>\n
Stander\u2019s brother-in-law Ryk Neethling tweeted on Saturday night \u201cproud of CJ Stander playing 62mins with two fractures in his cheek and eye socket\u201d, though Ireland are yet to confirm the full extent of the injuries.<\/p>\n
A four-week lay-off could see Stander return for the Sunday, March 10 home clash with France, with the final clash in Wales on March 16 another likely target.<\/p>\n
Leinster lock Toner\u2019s injury concern could dent Ireland\u2019s already depleted second-row stocks still further.<\/p>\n
Ulster lock Iain Henderson is sidelined with a finger complaint and in-form Munster star Tadhg Beirne a knee issue.<\/p>\n
Any further lock injuries could severely test Ireland\u2019s tight-five depth.<\/p>\n
Ireland have not yet called a replacement into their squad however, hinting that they expect the 32-year-old to recover in time to face Scotland this weekend.<\/p>\n
Ulster\u2019s versatile back Will Addison could slot into midfield should Ringrose not shake off his hamstring worry, while Schmidt will still ponder whether to run Robbie Henshaw again at full-back.<\/p>\n