Ireland lose star of the future

Injury has robbed Ireland of their brightest backline star for the rugby Test against the All Blacks here on Saturday.

Second five-eighth Luke Fitzgerald was this morning forced out by an ankle injury that forced him to miss training all week.

The tourists are thin on midfield backup options so his place has fallen to Paddy Wallace, who is regarded primarily as a first five-eighth although he has worn the No.12 jersey for Irish region Ulster.

Veteran fullback Geordan Murphy comes on to the bench.

In other squad news, Ulster No.8 Stephen Ferris will join the tourists as cover for Alan Quinlan, who is struggling with a thigh injury.

Quinlan and Fitzgerald are both still in contention for next week’s Test against Australia in Melbourne.

Fitzgerald, 20, is regarded as a logical backline successor to Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll and has earned rave reviews for his attacking verve this season with Leinster, mainly at fullback or on the wing.

Ireland manager Joey Miles admitted it was a major loss but he was confident eight-Test veteran Wallace, 28, would settle comfortably into the role.

“We knew there was an outside chance of this happening so Paddy Wallace has trained most of the week in that position,” Miles said.

“We’re not unduly concerned because he brings a set of skills to the team.”

Wallace and O’Driscoll are likely to swap between second five-eighth and centre throughout a match which will provide a stern test of Wallace’s defensive prowess.

Some Irish journalists suggested powerful All Blacks second five-eighth Ma’a Nonu had a clear target to run at in Wallace but Miles downplayed a potential mismatch in size and power.

“He (Nonu) would do that no matter who was there,” he said.

“Anyone who plays at inside centre in international football has to expect that type of challenge. I’m sure Paddy is more than up to it.”

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