Donnacha Ryan ‘should be right’ for Italy

Ireland look set to have lock Donnacha Ryan available for the trip to Italy this weekend but management are still waiting for positive news on fly-half Johnny Sexton and flanker Peter O’Mahony.

All three missed Saturday’s loss to Scotland although Ryan had recovered sufficiently from a medial knee ligament problem to travel as a reserve. His fellow Munster forward O’Mahony was withdrawn last week with a borderline grade one/two hamstring strain while Sexton continues to rehab his tight calf muscle as head coach Joe Schmidt assesses his selection options before naming his team on Thursday to face Conor O’Shea’s Italy.

“Certainly Donnacha Ryan should be right. I am not sure about Johnny or Pete so I will have a look at that on Monday or Tuesday,” said Schmidt.