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Ireland are optimistic sidelined number eight Jack Conan will be fit to feature in next weekend\u2019s Rugby World Cup showdown with defending champions South Africa in Paris.<\/p>\n
British and Irish Lion Conan, who suffered a foot injury in his country\u2019s opening warm-up match with Italy, missed Saturday\u2019s 82-8 win over Romania and will once again sit out on Saturday against Tonga in Nantes.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old was able to take part in basic on-field training on Wednesday morning following a series of gym sessions, raising hope of him being fit for the Springboks.<\/p>\n
Team manager Mick Kearney said: \u201c(It was a) very good training session today and everybody came through that really well.<\/p>\n
\u201cJack was out running, which was a real positive.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhile Saturday will come a little bit early for him, I think the signs are really positive in terms of being able to train fully next week, and hopefully he will be available for South Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Every other member of Andy Farrell\u2019s 33-man squad trained fully at Ireland\u2019s base in Tours, including centre Robbie Henshaw, who was a late withdrawal from the Romania game due to a hamstring issue, prop Dave Kilcoyne and hooker Dan Sheehan.<\/p>\n
Asked if it was Conan\u2019s first on-field session since arriving in France, Kearney replied: \u201cNot since we got to Tours, but it\u2019s his first for the last few days.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has been doing most of his rehab in the gym with the physios.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday was obviously a very big day for him in terms of getting out and running. He ran really well, it\u2019s really positive and he was in a good place afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland stretched their winning streak to 14 Tests with a thumping 12-try triumph in their curtain-raiser in Bordeaux.<\/p>\n
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Wing Keith Earls believes the world\u2019s top-ranked nation have proven they are capable of \u201cspecial things\u201d, having claimed the Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam on the back of last year\u2019s historic series success in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know how to deal with pressure a lot better now as a group,\u201d said Earls, who is at the fourth World Cup of his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have obviously achieved a lot and we know when we are on it and we are switched on, we are well capable of competing and doing special things.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CxIirJVMX-S<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be looking to go deep if we reach our standards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Team manager Kearney credits head coach Andy Farrell with creating an open environment, which he believes is free of egos.<\/p>\n
\u201cConfidence and belief is very high and I think that comes from a number of factors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the early days, Andy would say there\u2019s no such thing as a silly or a bad question and he doesn\u2019t have to say that any more now because players are very open with each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also think the staff and the players, there\u2019s an incredible connection between both groups.\u00a0 From the player point of view, there are no egos, they are incredibly humble.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coaching team are working so hard to make the players better which in turn builds the confidence.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s something you can build overnight. I see now everybody is comfortable in the system.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coaches are drilling good habits into them morning, noon and night and the players have really embraced the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n