O’Connell will lead if passed fit

Paul O’Connell will be handed the Irish captaincy for the November series today as long as his troublesome back stands up to the rigours of a training stint at Carton House this morning.

The Munster lock did not train towards the end of last week but rehabbed well over the weekend. He took part in yesterday’s practice session in Kildare and is expected to do so again this morning before the squad get to put their collective feet up until Thursday.

An all-clear for the Munster veteran, who has been dogged by injury in recent years, would be an immeasurable boost for coach Declan Kidney and an Ireland squad that has had to contend with a drip-drip of injury blows to some of the country’s best players in recent weeks.