Rob Baloucoune and Jeremy Loughman fit for Ireland’s clash with New Zealand
Rob Baloucoune and Jeremy Loughman are both in contention for Ireland’s Test against New Zealand this weekend as a fully-fit squad trained on Tuesday.
Ulster’s Baloucoune had been picked to face Australia in Sydney in the opening match of this tour but pulled out with a hamstring problem which also forced him out of the win over Japan.
Loughman, meanwhile, suffered a head injury against the Wallabies which sidelined him against Japan.
But both were involved as the players trained at Kings College in Auckland ahead of this weekend’s clash at Eden Park, a venue where New Zealand are unbeaten in their last 52 games.
“It was great to have everyone out there on the fourth week of the tour,” backs coach Andrew Goodman told reporters. “Everyone was training and available, so it’s a good place to be at the end of the tour.”
Jimmy O’Brien turned in two excellent performances in the absence of Baloucoune, and the latter’s return will leave Andy Farrell with a decision to make.
“To have Rob back training and fit, he obviously had an amazing Six Nations for us and we were looking forward to getting him going from week one,” Goodman added. “It’s a shame he pulled up with an injury, but he’s charging around training again today. It creates a healthy dilemma for us as coaches and some good discussions.”
Goodman added on the official Rugby Ireland website: "It's special, any time to play New Zealand and to play at Eden Park. We know the history of the stadium and it's probably the home of New Zealand rugby.
"We're really excited about being here and having the opportunity to go and put our best foot forward and to go and put a performance out there that we're going to be really proud of.
"So it's been about preparation, the mentality building every day. I know there's a big narrative around the streak, but for us it's around day-to-day preparation and making sure we get to a place where we can go and put our game on New Zealand at Eden Park."
He also said: We've obviously got a few things we need to work on ourselves from the first couple of games and looking at the All Blacks around how we can stop the way they're going to try and play the game.”