O’Sullivan sweats on Horan recovery

MARCUS HORAN remains confident that he will be fit to face Italy in Ireland’s final Six Nations game at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome on Saturday.

Horan was forced to withdraw on the eve of last weekend’s game against Scotland with a damaged calf muscle. Coach Eddie O’Sullivan is playing a waiting game on the front rowers availability and has opted for a Horan/Simon Best scenario for the weekend. His caution is generated by the fact the “injury is a grade one muscle strain that usually takes six to seven days to recover and so he will be right on the cusp. We will give Marcus until Friday because he needs the whole week”.

While the likely return of Horan is good news for Ireland and Munster — who have a Heineken Cup engagement with Llanelli at Stradey Park two weeks on Friday — O’Sullivan is resigned to being without Paul O’Connell, with his Munster teammate Mick O’Driscoll the player to benefit.