Schmidt confident cavalry coming to Ireland’s aid ahead of France visit

Joe Schmidt has suggested Ireland will be in much better shape with the return of some frontline stars when France visit Dublin on March 10.

Ireland laboured to a 26-16 victory over Italy in their Guinness Six Nations game in Rome on Sunday, without a number of injured and rested players, six of whom had started the Grand Slam victory over England last March, while Bundee Aki was an early departure following a Head Injury Assessment (HIA).