Tadhg Beirne expected to return for Italy clash

Ireland boss Joe Schmidt is hopeful Tadhg Beirne could return to fitness in time to face Italy in Rome when the defending champions resume their Guinness Six Nations campaign in 13 days.

Resources in the Irish second row have been hit by the absences of both Munster’s Beirne and Ulster’s Iain Henderson from the first two rounds while Schmidt has also lost lineout leader Devin Toner following surgery last week on an ankle injury suffered against England.