Jared Payne return adds to Joe Schmidt’s options

Joe Schmidt will pore over the performances of Ireland’s provinces before finalising his squad to face Wales on Friday week, and Jared Payne’s comeback from injury will be of particular interest.

Defensive linchpin Payne had not played since suffering a kidney injury during the high-intensity Test against New Zealand in Dublin last November and the centre returned to action in Italy yesterday, coming off the bench in the 65th minute of Ulster’s bonus-point victory away to Zebre in the Guinness PRO12.

Reuniting Payne in midfield with inside centre Robbie Henshaw would restore the highly effective combination that was so crucial to Ireland’s historic victory over the All Blacks in Chicago during the autumn internationals, while an adductor problem for Rob Kearney may also give Schmidt the option to install the Ulster player at full-back if he wanted to retain Garry Ringrose at 13.