Cian Healy withdrawn from Ireland squad to face USA

Ireland prop Cian Healy will not feature in the side’s opening World Cup fixture against the USA on Sunday.

The 23-year-old has not recovered from an eye injury he picked up in the warm-up match against England.

Ireland manager Paul McNaughton has confirmed the prop’s absence, but insists that Healy should be in contention to face Australia the following week.

"The medical advice was that Cian will be not be able to resume contact until this weekend," Sky Sports News quotes McNaughton as saying. "But he will be fit and available for selection against Australia."

Ireland’s Tony Buckley or Tom Court have been lined up as possible replacements for the Leinster player.