Healy ban opens door for Kilcoyne

Munster loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne appears poised for his first Test start for Ireland on February 24 against Scotland after first-choice number one Cian Healy was suspended yesterday for three weeks.

Since making his Test debut against South Africa in November, Kilcoyne, 24, has earned four caps, all as back-up to Healy but is in pole position to start in his stead after the Leinster man was found guilty of stamping on England’s Dan Cole during last Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations defeat in Dublin.

Ireland will not call up a replacement for Healy until after the weekend with Ulster’s in-form loosehead Tom Court in line for a recall from head coach Declan Kidney for the first time since he was used out of position off the bench at Twickenham as a replacement for injured tighthead Mike Ross.