Leinster prop Cian Healy's fitness is of the utmost importance to Ireland and their World Cup campaign © Getty Images

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Matches: Ireland 22 - 10 United States of America

Players/Officials: Gordon D'Arcy | Cian Healy

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: Australia | Ireland | Italy | Russia | United States of America

Ireland have been buoyed by the belated arrival of fitness doubts Cian Healy and Gordon D'Arcy in New Zealand.

The Leinster duo did not travel with the rest of their team-mates to New Zealand last week as they required more time at home to shrug off nagging injuries. Healy picked up a minor eye injury in the defeat by England last Saturday week, while D'Arcy was the victim of a minor calf strain on the eve of the squad's departure.

Healy said: "It was a strange feeling watching the lads meet up in Dublin airport and then waving goodbye to them, but there was also a little sense of comfort for me knowing that I would at least be following them out a couple of days later," the prop said.

"I was getting mentally prepared for doing the journey by myself, but I got the news that Gordon pulled up with a calf injury, so I guess there was a sense of relief for both of us that we would still be travelling.

"Talking to some of the squad, they seem to have settled in really well and combined training with some time to relax and get involved in the whole spirit of the tournament.

"It's good to get that down time before we pick the pace up this week, so I think the intensity will start to rise now another couple of notches as we look forward to the USA game.

"The injury has come on fine over the last couple of days and the medical team has been keeping a good watch over it, so I'm just really excited to be finally here and get the chance to get back on the field." D'Arcy, meanwhile, was disappointed at being forced to stay behind for a few more days but is just delighted that he still has a World Cup to look forward to.

"There was a terrible sense of dread for me when the calf tightened up that morning and there was a couple of anxious hours before the scans came through and showed that it was not too bad and that it would not rule me out of the tournament," the centre said. "My focus now is to get it right and get on the field to put myself in contention for selection as soon as possible."