Joe Schmidt suggests Sean O’Brien and Garry Ringrose could return for Wales

If even one of these lads was able to come back in decent nick, Ireland would greatly benefit.

Some victories exact a higher cost than others. In Paris, Ireland overcame France but lost Josh van der Flier in the process. The flanker is out for the remainder of the season. In Dublin, on Saturday, Ireland swatted Italy aside but four players came off before the hour mark with various knocks and strains. Some are more worrying than others:

• Robbie Henshaw, shoulder [scan set for Sunday, doubt for Wales game but could miss rest of championship]
• Tadhg Furlong, hamstring [not torn but unlikely to train this week]
• Jack Conan, shoulder [withdrawn at half-time after taking a "dunt"]
• Johnny Sexton, foot/ankle [came off before the final quarter and had ice placed on lower leg]

Iain Henderson also left the game at half-time but this was so Quinn Roux could get a decent second row shift under his belt. On Furlong, who was helped off after three minutes, Joe Schmidt said:

"[We] can get Tadhg up to speed in Athlone so he's ready to train fully the following week.

"We'll have 20 players to take to Athlone, maybe 22, and other members of squad will be available for provinces."

Munster, Connacht and Ulster all won at the weekend but Leinster, the worst affected by the Ireland call-ups, lost in Edinburgh. They will be hoping to give game-time to the likes of Joey Carbery, Fergus McFadden, Luke McGrath, Sean Cronin and Jordi Murphy. Leinster play Scarlets next weekend and it may come a too soon for Sean O'Brien and Garry Ringrose, who are rehabbing from respective hip and ankles injuries. That does not mean that Schmidt is not willing to consider them for the February 24 meeting with Wales. Asked about O'Brien, who has not played since mid December, Schmidt commented:

"Sean is trucking along pretty well, as well.

"We're starting to get a few other loose forwards that we need to look at, and Sean O'Brien is automatically one of those.

"He's making pretty good progress, so we'll get an update on Sean during the week and he may well come into the squad ahead of the Wales Test match."

On Ringrose, the Ireland coach suggested putting the 23-year-old straight into a game against Wales could be tough but it is 'a call we'd be happy to make based on Garry's previous contributions'. Ireland look set to use Chris Farrell of Munster at 13 but Ringrose could well be an option for the Scotland game if he comes through Leinster's league tie with Southern Kings on the same weekend as Ireland vs. Wales. O'Brien is a different matter entirely. The Carlow native has proved on multiple occasions that he can hit the ground running upon making his return in big games. O'Brien may only be able to sustain the pace for 50 to 55 minutes, were he passed fit, but he would be one of the last faces the Welsh would like to see.