Ireland’s Jack Conan admits the side’s back row will be under a “huge amount of pressure” to fill the void left by Caelan Doris’ injury against Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday (14:15 GMT).
Simon Easterby’s side have won their opening two games of the championship against England and Scotland, but will be forced into changes for this weekend’s trip to Cardiff with captain Doris and Ronan Kelleher both ruled out.
Doris has played in every one of Ireland’s Test matches since the 2021 Six Nations but will miss out this weekend because of a knee injury sustained in training.
“How do you fill that role? It’s very difficult,” said Conan.
“He’s played 42 in a row which is a testament to how professional he is, how durable he is, how consistent he’s been as a player.
“There’ll be a huge amount of pressure on the entirety of the back row, whoever is on the bench and the lads that are starting, to keep on pushing from where he left off because he’s been unbelievable.”
Conan, a 2021 British and Irish Lion, has performed well off the bench in the opening two games and is most likely to fill the jersey vacated by his Leinster team-mate Doris.
“We get on very well. We compete hard against each other and I think we’ve spurred each other on to be at a really good level,” added the 32-year-old.
“He’s someone who sets the standard for the rest of the back row and without him we’re going to have to push on and make sure we’re at that level.”
Wales will be under the charge of interim head coach Matt Sherratt for the first time, having lost their past 14 Tests, a run dating back to the 2023 World Cup.
“I’ve no doubt it’s been unbelievably tough for the Welsh lads,” said Conan.
“They’ll be galvanised by a new coach coming in, everything that’s gone on the last few weeks.
“They’re a nation that gets behind Welsh rugby incredibly well, and playing over there with the roof closed is going to be special.”
