Dan Sheehan injury: Andy Farrell expects Ireland hooker to be fit for World Cup

Sheehan was forced off during the win over England with a sprained foot

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says he expects injured hooker Dan Sheehan to regain his fitness in time for the Rugby World Cup.

Sheehan sprained his foot during Ireland's win over England on Saturday.

A report suggested the Leinster forward, 26, could miss up to eight weeks, but Farrell says the knock is "better than expected".

"He has a sprain in his foot, better than expected, [and] should be fit for the World Cup," said Farrell.

When asked if Sheehan will be fit in time to feature in Ireland's tournament opener against Romania on 9 September, Farrell added: "We'll see how he progresses over the coming weeks but, as I said, with all injuries you see how they develop over the period of time.

"We expect him to be fit for the World Cup."

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Farrell was also upbeat on Sheehan's Leinster team-mate Kelleher, who has not featured this summer because of a hamstring issue.

Rob Herring will be the back-up hooker on Saturday with Munster's Diarmuid Barron also having travelled with the group to France.

"As far as Ronan is concerned, he's doing great, he's flying around the place this week," said Farrell.

"If it was say a World Cup semi-final or final, at a push I'm sure we would have got him over the line this week, but there is no need to do that."

Farrell will name his final 33-man World Cup squad on Monday, with the Samoa game offering players one last chance to ensure they make the cut.

However, the Englishman insisted there was no specific message for players fighting for places ahead of Saturday's Test in Bayonne, with the likes of Tom Stewart and Stuart McCloskey handed a big chance to impress before the squad announcement.

He said: "There's no [specific] message. The messages have been [the same] over the last 10 weeks [about] how we prepare to be the best team you possibly can be, how [they] adjust and adapt the pressure of playing top-level rugby. They'll push forward with that in mind."

While Ireland secured wins over Italy and England, Farrell described elements of the performances as "clunky" as the world's number one-ranked side ramped up preparations for the World Cup.

When asked what improvements he would like to see on Saturday, Farrell said: "I think we got better, certainly in the second game [and scored] some fantastic tries.

"[It's] consistency, isn't it? That's why we play the warm-up games, get some of the rust out and show pictures to one another about what's acceptable and what's not.

"We're here to take a step forward in our development as a team."

Door not closed on Stockdale - Farrell

While Farrell's team for the Samoa Test shows 12 changes from the side that started last week's win over England, there is no place in the 23 for Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale.

Stockdale, who has 19 tries in 36 caps, made his first appearance in two years in the win over Italy in Dublin but has now been left out of the last two matchday squads.

Farrell last week cut Kieran Treadwell, Caolin Blade, Gavin Coombes, Calvin Nash and Jamie Osborne from his squad, but the head coach insists Stockdale - as well as fly-half Ciaran Frawley - remain "in the mix".

"Well, we haven't selected the squad yet. Everyone is still in the mix.

"There's a good few days to go, in that regard."

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