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Andy Farrell has declared Rob Kearney and Keith Earls available for selection for Ireland\u2019s World Cup opener against Scotland on Sunday.<\/p>\nAndy Farrell has declared Rob Kearney and Keith Earls available for selection for Ireland\u2019s World Cup opener against Scotland on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Assistant coach Farrell said full-back Kearney and center Earls \u201cran well\u201d in Wednesday\u2019s session after struggling with calf and thigh issues respectively.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re pleased with how things have gone today,\u201d said Farrell. \u201cRob and Keith Earls ran well and trained well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a few protocols that they need to go to, so that\u2019s what we need to adhere to with the medical staff. But they are very happy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are available, so we\u2019ve obviously another session to go on Friday. It\u2019s Wednesday. The game\u2019s on Sunday, so we\u2019re building nicely.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody (barring Robbie Henshaw) is available for selection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leinster center Henshaw will definitely miss Sunday\u2019s Pool A match due to his hamstring issue, but Ireland still hope he will be fit for the game against hosts Japan on September 28.<\/p>\n
Farrell confirmed that Joey Carbery is fully fit, with the fly-half likely to take a seat on the bench against the Scots.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoey\u2019s been training well since Monday, so we\u2019re in a good spot,\u201d said Farrell.<\/p>\n
\u201cRobbie won\u2019t make this weekend, they are very happy with his progress but he will sit out this weekend and hopefully he will be available for next week. His progress has been great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s clash with Scotland could well determine the entire outcome of Pool A, with the winners hoping they can push on and top the round-robin standings.<\/p>\n
Former dual code international Farrell admitted Ireland have trained with added \u201cbite\u201d this week, as they sharpen up for their biggest match in some time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you take for example this week, which is the week that matters, there\u2019s certainly a feel that\u2019s brewing of major importance to the squad,\u201d said Farrell.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intensity, the bite that\u2019s in training is very significant, and there\u2019s a completely different feel. So I suppose that\u2019s a culmination of what\u2019s happened over the last couple of months.\u201d<\/p>\n