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.

The Munster flanker was due to return home to Ireland yesterday morning on board a ferry having dislocated his hip after an impressive audition for one of the back row spots in what was the first of four warm-up games.

Joining him on the outside looking in last night was Ulster’s Rob Herring and Leinster’s Noel Reid, who have been allowed to return to their clubs.

The official line from Schmidt in Cardiff was that such moves need not be permanent, but only further injuries will likely see recalls.

At least four more names are expected to be removed from the roster at some stage this week, maybe as early as tomorrow, but the hope must be that Andrew Trimble isn’t one of them after the Ulster wing suffered a foot injury against the Welsh.

Trimble featured in an Irish jersey for the first time in over a year following a long-running toe injury and the team’s skills coach Richie Murphy confirmed yesterday the latest complaint is in the same foot.

“There was a report (Monday) saying that he had a scan and that scan was a little bit inconclusive,” said Murphy.

“He is going for another scan (today). Until we see what the result of that scan is we can’t really give you any further information.”

What he could say was that Luke Fitzgerald and Marty Moore are both available for Saturday’s meeting with Scotland in the Aviva Stadium with both Leinster players having fully recovered from their respective summer shoulder surgeries.

Cian Healy is “progressing” from the issues relating to his neck surgery and has taken part in some scrum work, which is encouraging, though a full reintegration into training and any involvement on a specified match day remains speculation.

Jonathan Sexton is reportedly looking “strong” in training while Murphy confirmed that Ian Madigan will feature at 10 at some point in the next three games. Paddy Jackson held that role against Wales and fared well.

“Paddy done well. He was assured. He ran the game plan in the manner we wanted it to be run, defended pretty well. His passing game was quite sharp. Some of his kicking was very good and there were a couple of loose ones there as well.”

Schmidt names his squad for the Scotland game tomorrow at lunchtime while his old Clermont Auvergne boss Vern Cotter has already revealed his 25-man travelling party, one to be captained by Glasgow nine Henry Prygos.

It will be the first of Scotland’s four warm-ups before the World Cup and key figures such as Greig Laidlaw, Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg as well as the Gray brothers, Richie and Jonny, have been held in check for another week at least.

Cotter has opted to bring four uncapped players, however. Kiwi-born flanker Hugh Blake, English prop Mike Cusack, South African prop Allan Dell and hooker Stuart McInally will feature along with the likes of Jim Hamilton, David Denton, Ryan Grant and Tommy Seymour.

GUINNESS RUGBY WRITERS OF IRELAND AWARDS 2015:

Player of the Year: Paul O’Connell; Dave Guiney Award (Team of the Year): Ireland; Tom Rooney Award: Fred Casey; Guinness Hall of Fame: Tom Grace and David Hewitt; Women’s Player of the Year: Sophie Spence; Club of the Year: Lansdowne FC.