O’Connell gets back in the groove

PAUL O’CONNELL returned to training with the Ireland squad in Bray yesterday for the first time since sustaining a shoulder injury in the Six Nations defeat by France in Paris.

The Lions lock is expected to return for the meeting with Scotland at Lansdowne Road this weekend, with his Munster team-mate Donncha O'Callaghan expected to make way.

Simon Easterby and scrum half Eoin Reddan sat out training yesterday, the squad's first session in almost a week. Both players suffered dead legs although neither are doubtful for the visit of Scotland.

Meanwhile, Scotland winger Sean Lamont is hopeful brother Rory makes a speedy recovery from his broken jaw so he can team up with him again in Frank Hadden's high-flying side.

Rory sustained the fracture playing for Glasgow in Friday's 20-8 defeat to the Borders at Firhill and will miss the remainder of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

The Lamonts became the first brothers since Gavin and Scott Hastings to pull on the dark blue jersey of their country and both were hoping for a long run together for Scotland.

But Rory has seen Hugo Southwell oust him from the starting 15 and Edinburgh utility back Simon Webster keep him off the substitutes' bench and now injury has robbed him of the chance of putting pressure on that duo for the matches with Ireland and Italy.

Sean Lamont was the two-try hero against France on the opening weekend of the championship and has proved a danger to opposition defences over the past two seasons with his strong running and devastating pace.

The 25-year-old was, however, hardly seen in an attacking sense in the recent 18-12 victory over England and was forced to put almost all his efforts into the huge defensive effort which won the game for the Scots.

The Northampton winger insists he will be happy with that again this weekend in Dublin if Hadden's side rack up their first away win over the Irish.

Meanwhile, Bath lock Danny Grewcock is available for England's vital trip to the Stade de France this Sunday after being censured but not cited for an alleged stamp on Llanelli fly-half Mike Hercus.

Television cameras spotted Grewcock making contact with Hercus in the second half of Bath's 27-26 Powergen Cup semi-final defeat to the Scarlets.

It is not often the game's disciplinary authorities come down on Grewcock's side he has been sent off or cited six times in his career but after reviewing the video evidence citing commissioner Ken Pattinson decided to issue a warning for reckless use of the boot.

No further action will be taken and Grewcock is free to continue preparing for England's clash with France in Paris, a match Les Bleus head coach Bernard Laporte described yesterday as "more like a boxing fight than a chess game."

But England, who need to shunt their RBS 6 Nations Championship campaign back on the rails after the 18-12 defeat to Scotland two weekends ago, will be without Leicester hooker George Chuter after he was cited for allegedly stamping on Wasps opposite number Raphael Ibanez.

Chuter, an unused replacement at Murrayfield, will appear before a disciplinary panel in London on March 14. Under Six Nations regulations he is suspended from international rugby until then, though he can play for Leicester against Leeds on Friday.

With the disciplinary hearing taking place just four days before England take on Ireland at Twickenham in the final round of Six Nations games, Chuter is unlikely to involved again in the championship.

His suspension opens a place for Bath hooker Lee Mears, who was on the bench for England's victories over Wales and Italy.

Mears' inclusion is likely to be one of very few other changes head coach Andy Robinson makes to the squad for the trip to France.

The team will be announced at lunchtime today and Bath prop Matt Stevens could return in place of Julian White after recovering from a shoulder strain.

Wales are confident outside-half Stephen Jones will be fit to face Italy in Saturday's RBS 6 Nations Championship clash at the Millennium Stadium.

Jones limped off after just 20 minutes of the 31-5 defeat in Ireland two weekends ago and was thought to be a real doubt against the Italians.

But the Wales camp are delighted with the Clermont Auvergne star's progress.

If Jones is not fit then Cardiff Blues number 10 Nicky Robinson and Gavin Henson are standing by as possible replacements.

Wales were less upbeat about wing Mark Jones, who came off with bruised ribs in the Scarlets 27-26 victory over Bath in Saturday's Powergen Cup semi-final.

Italy have lost arguably their best player after Mauro Bergamasco was forced to withdraw from the squad through injury.

The flanker picked up a thigh problem playing for his club Stade Francais at the weekend and will miss Saturday's Cardiff showdown.

Head coach Pierre Berbizier has called up Aaron Persico into his 24-man party as a replacement.