O’Connell facing fitness fight

Paul O’Connell is “cutting it fine” according to Joe Schmidt, about being fit to face Samoa in eight days at the Aviva Stadium.

The Munster and Ireland lock, in the frame to captain his country during the November Guinness Series of Test matches, is still recovering from a calf strain that forced his late withdrawal from Munster’s trip to Glasgow a week ago, and has kept him from training under Schmidt in camp at Carton House this week.

Schmidt said no decision on O’Connell’s involvement against Samoa — the new head coach’s first game as Ireland boss — would be made at least until he returned to training early next week.