Lions trio set to fill Ireland's back row as injuries mount

Ireland’s back row for Saturday’s Guinness Series opener against South Africa appears to be cut and dried after forwards coach Simon Easterby revealed Tommy O’Donnell, Dan Leavy, and Jack Conan had all missed some training this week.

Munster flanker O’Donnell appears the most serious concern after sustaining a shoulder “bump” in training on Monday, with Easterby saying yesterday that the openside was due to have a scan. Conan, one of two back rowers along with CJ Stander running at No.8 in training under head coach Joe Schmidt, was rested yesterday due to a heavy workload, while Dan Leavy has experienced tightness in his hamstring after playing for Leinster last weekend.

Easterby said none of the injury issues were serious but, with Jamie Heaslip absent with a long-term back injury, it looks likely Schmidt will go with an all-British & Irish Lions trio of Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, and Stander, with Rhys Ruddock providing bench cover when the Springboks visit the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.