O’Sullivan optimistic over O’Connell

IRELAND coach Eddie O’Sullivan remains cautiously optimistic that Paul O’Connell will play some role in the Six Nations.

O’Connell has been dogged by a back injury since last year’s World Cup which has ruled him out of competitive rugby.

“I was talking to him (Tuesday) night and there was a concern about a week ago that he may need an operation on a disc problem which he has had before,” said O’Sullivan.

“Had that operation taken place, he could have written off the Six Nations and he would have been targeting the summer tour.

“They have decided to hold back on the operation and they have given him a steroid injection which is another course of treatment for that injury. If that works he could be back sooner rather than later.”

The latest prognosis also raises hopes that the talismanic forward will be able to play some part in Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Gloucester in Kingsholm in April.

However, O’Sullivan is refusing to raise his hopes too high in case the situation deteriorates again.

“He is responding well to that injection. If that stays on the current track he could be back playing in the next two to three weeks which could put him in contention for an appearance at the back end of the Six Nations for us. The one thing about these back injuries is that he was hopeful of playing against Wasps last weekend and that came unstuck for him. So fingers crossed.”