Sheehan to see specialist as Ireland wait on foot injury news

Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt says they're still assessing the foot injury sustained by Dan Sheehan in Saturday's Rugby World Cup warm-up win against England at the Aviva Stadium.

The Leinster hooker departed 36 minutes into the 29-10 win with a foot injury, and was pictured wearing a protective boot and using crutches after the game.

On Saturday night, head coach Andy Farrell said Sheehan "lost power" in the foot, an issue which has also ruled Jack Conan out of action in recent weeks.

Sheehan, Conan and loosehead Dave Kilcoyne all stayed back in Dublin this week, with the Ireland squad in Biarritz ahead of Saturday's final warm-up game against Samoa in Bayonne.

"We still haven't got confirmation on what it is," the Ireland attack and backs coach Mike Catt said.

"He's still seeing a specialist, obviously he's being rehabbed back in Dublin so hopefully Andy [Farrell] will have a bit more of an answer tomorrow.

"As it currently stands he's seeing a specialist and getting the proper treatment accordingly, really."

A report in the Irish Independent suggested the injury could rule Sheehan put for between six and eight weeks which would see him miss most of - if not all - Ireland's pool games.

And Catt woudn't be drawn on whether Ireland would be willing to carry an injured player like Sheehan for the duration of the pool stages, if needed.

"Yeah, like I say he's still being diagnosed so we'll have a much better idea tomorrow or on Thursday in terms of where he's at and when his back to return dates are.

"I think what you get from Dan is one of the best hookers in the world currently, so he's going to be missed in whatever team he plays in, but again we've got full faith in Rob Herring, Ronan Kelleher and Tom Stewart obviously, who