Scan to decide Andrew Trimble's cup fate

The trimming has begun.

Joe Schmidt sought to soften the blow to be felt by players due for release from his Ireland squad when speaking in Cardiff last Saturday, but the process has started even earlier than anticipated with three of their number having already vacated the Carton House premises.

Tommy O’Donnell’s removal from consideration for the World Cup was all too apparent to the full house in the Millennium Stadium at the weekend, and to those watching either live or later on the box, and his painful journey back has already moved on from the metaphorical to the literal.