FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Scotland v Ireland - Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - February 9, 2025 Ireland's Caelan Doris celebrates with a trophy after the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo
(Reuters) - Ireland will be without captain Caelan Doris and hooker Ronan Kelleher for this weekend's Six Nations clash with Wales due to injury, and prop Tadhg Furlong is also still unavailable for selection.
Doris picked up a knee injury in Ireland's most recent match, a 32-18 win in Scotland, and the number eight will miss an Ireland game for the first time since 2021 having made 42 consecutive appearances.
"It's an amazing stat, it's credit to him and the form he has been in the last few years, but there are guys ready to go," assistant coach Andrew Goodman said on Tuesday.
"We have got great cover at eight and I'm sure the guy that fills that jersey will do a great job."
Jack Conan is the most likely candidate to replace Doris, and the 32-year-old could also be in line to captain the side against Wales.
"I am sure you guys can probably pick a few names out. Guys like Peter O'Mahony and Jack Conan that have captained their provinces," Goodman added.
"Dan Sheehan has, Garry Ringrose, James Ryan, Cian Prendergast, there are a number of guys with leadership experience, so a few possibilities there."
Sheehan looks set to come in for Kelleher, having come off the bench in Ireland's last two games after his return from a knee injury, while Finlay Bealham should continue at tighthead in place of Furlong.
Kelleher has been ruled out because of a neck injury, and Furlong, who missed Ireland's two opening Six Nations wins, continues to recover from a calf injury.
"All unavailable for this week," Goodman said.
"We are hoping they will be available for France. They are just going through their processes with the physio but they are all making good progress."
Ireland, Six Nations champions last year and Grand Slam winners the year before that, are the only side on maximum points after the opening two rounds of fixtures, having begun with a 27-22 win over England in Dublin.
The Irish team travel to Cardiff to take on Wales on Saturday, and this will be the first match for the home side under Matt Sherratt since Warren Gatland's tenure ended last week after 14 successive losses.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
