Garry Ringrose will miss Ireland's Six Nations Grand Slam decider against England following a horror head injury during Sunday's 22-7 win over Scotland.
The Leinster man was carted off in the 72nd minute at Murrayfield after his head thudded against the hip of Scotland substitute Blair Kinghorn. Fans and players alike held their breath as Ringrose received attention from Scottish medical staff, giving a weak thumbs up as he was wheeled off the pitch.
It will come as a surprise to few that the 28-year-old has been ruled out of Saturday's final round of fixtures, which will see world No. 1 Ireland welcome England to Dublin on St. Patrick's Day weekend. Victory over Scotland extended Ireland's run as the only unbeaten team left in the Six Nations, hoping to make it five wins from five and clinch their third Grand Slam success when they host the Red Rose.
“Garry Ringrose is doing well today and has returned to Dublin," read a statement from the Irish Rugby Football Union on Monday. "He will take no further part in this year’s Championship.”
Ringrose has again been a key linchpin in midfield for the title favourites and played the full 80 minutes in their opening wins over Wales and France. Farrell will now be forced to make changes at centre, where Robbie Henshaw made his first appearance of 2023 following a long injury lay-off as a substitute on Sunday.
Henshaw's return to fitness was a major boost for the team even before Leinster team-mate Ringrose's injury, though the comeback is even more fortuitous in hindsight. He may partner Bundee Aki against the English, though Ulster's Stuart McCloskey is another option having impressed with starts in the first three rounds of the competition.
Ringrose is far from the only concern for Ireland heading into Round 5, too, after a rash of injuries hit their forward pack in particular on Sunday. Hookers Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher both came off with shoulder injuries, while Caelan Doris' hip knock is being assessed and lock Iain Henderson has been ruled out with a fractured forearm.
Leinster's Ross Molony has been called into the squad as a replacement for Henderson, while Tom Stewart has joined Ulster team-mate Rob Herring to help cover at hooker. Ireland came through a terrific test of their depth to beat Scotland by 15 points in Edinburgh and will still be favourites to complete the clean sweet against an ailing England.
Steve Borthwick's side were hammered 53-10 by France on Saturday, suffering their largest-ever home defeat in any competition as Les Bleus ran in seven tries. England's last win at the Aviva Stadium came in the run-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, though the two teams' development has gone in opposite directions since then.
