Sexton now a major doubt as Ireland’s woes grow

Ireland’s 2013 RBS 6 Nations campaign received a further blow yesterday when fly-half Jonny Sexton was confirmed as a doubt to face Scotland in 12 days and prop Cian Healy was cited for stamping on an opponent during the weekend’s defeat by England.

Irish hopes of a Grand Slam campaign were smashed in Dublin on Sunday as they were beaten 12-6 by the English in a game that saw Munster wing Simon Zebo break the fifth metatarsal in his right foot and Sexton carried off with a right hamstring strain in the first 30 minutes.

Zebo’s injury required surgery yesterday and he now faces an eight to 10- week recovery period that looks set to rule him out not just of the rest of the Six Nations but also Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final at Harlequins on April 6.