Rugby round-up: Ireland’s Jonathan Sexton and Robbie Henshaw to miss Australia clash

In other rugby union news, England lock Joe Launchbury will miss the Tests against Argentina and Australia after being handed a two-week ban by a disciplinary committee for kicking an opponent in Saturday’s win over Fiji.

Ireland's Jonathan Sexton is injured. Clodagh Kilcoyne / Reuters

DUBLIN // Ireland’s injured flyhalf Jonathan Sexton and centre Robbie Henshaw will miss this weekend’s Test with Australia at the Aviva Stadium, team manager Michael Kearney said on Monday.

Sexton and Henshaw suffered a hamstring problem and concussion respectively in the 21-9 loss to New Zealand, who the Irish beat for the first time in 111 years two weeks’ before.

Ireland full back Rob Kearney and back rower CJ Stander were also concussed and are doubtful for Saturday’s match.

Henshaw went off on a stretcher with his neck in a brace after an 11th minute tackle from Sam Cane, which the flanker has been cited for, while Sexton was withdrawn soon afterwards with a hamstring injury that will keep him out for up to two weeks.

“Robbie Henshaw was knocked unconscious by a shoulder contact to his jaw. He suffered a concussion and will not be involved this week,” Kearney said on the IRFU website. “Johnny Sexton has suffered a minor hamstring injury and has been ruled out of the game at the weekend.”

England lock Joe Launchbury will miss the Tests against Argentina and Australia after being handed a two-week ban by a disciplinary committee for kicking an opponent in Saturday’s win over Fiji.

Launchbury, 25, tried to kick the ball away at the base of a ruck but instead connected with Fiji centre Asaeli Tikoirotuma’s head in the 42nd minute of the 58-15 victory at Twickenham.

He accepted he had committed an act of foul play, missed by the officials, that would have warranted a red card.

The kick was deemed reckless rather than intentional by an independent panel, resulting in what would have been a suspension at the lower end of the scale of four weeks.

But this was reduced to two weeks due to mitigating factors, including the Wasps captain’s admission of guilt, his previous clean disciplinary record and good conduct at the hearing.

Launchbury can play again from December 5, two days after England wrap up their autumn schedule, though he can appeal.

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