IRFU release seven players back to their provinces before United States match

Ireland flanker Peter O'Mahony has a confirmed dead leg while Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Rob Kearney, James Ryan, Jordan Larmour, Dan Leavy and Kieran Marmion have all re-joined their provinces ahead of the United States game.

O'Mahony was pulled just after the hour mark of Ireland's 16-9 win over New Zealand on Saturday and will have his training load managed accordingly at Carton House this week while fellow flanker Leavy has been sent back to Belfield where he will rehabilitate from a strained neck. The win over New Zealand gave Joe Schmidt his second win over the All Blacks in the last two years, and while New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen said that Ireland are now probably the favourites for next year's Rugby World Cup in Japan, Joe Schmidt wasn't quite buying into that line of thinking. "I think he probably enjoyed a little bit of banter," the Ireland head coach said at the post-match press conference. "I've huge respect for Steve, Fozzy [Ian Foster], and Scott MacLeod, their coaching staff.

"So for us to be favourites when they have been the world number-one team for nine years, and continue to be the world number-one team... We were at home, and they were coming off a long series of games where they have travelled around the world a number of times."