IRELAND WILL BE without both Jonathan Sexton and Peter O’Mahony for the Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday.
The Leinster out-half ran as part of his modified training at Carton House yesterday afternoon, but subsequently reported tightness in his existing calf problem.
“We felt it right not to push him through the week and risk potential further damage,” said forwards coach Simon Easterby today.
“He’s obviously had a lot of lower limb injuries, a hamstring injury which we’ve managed with Leinster in the pre-Christmas period. He picked up a calf problem in the week of the Castres game, only managed 20 minutes in that game.
“As a result of that calf strain and the fact we don’t want to compromise his calf any further. We feel it best to leave him out this week and make sure he’s right for upcoming games.”
Paddy Jackson is in line to start in Murrayfield, with Rory Scannell and Ian Keatley the only viable back-up options for the Ulster out-half.
The42 Rugby Show / SoundCloud
To compound the injury blow to Sexton, Munster captain O’Mahony will also miss the trip to Scotland as he nurses a hamstring problem. Andrew Trimble also took a limited part in training today with tightness in his groin.
“He ran today and it was reasonably effective and reasonably high-intensity,” Easterby said of Trimble, “but it’s a case of monitoring him and making sure he’s fully fit and we’re not risking a player who’s not right.”
If Trimble does not prove his fitness in time for Murrayfield, head coach Joe Schmidt will at least have Keith Earls at his disposal as the Munster wing took a full part in today’s session.
