Ireland confident they can absorb loss of Tadhg Beirne for Six Nations

Beirne suffered the injury shortly after half-time during the win over France in Dublin last Saturday and will now miss the remainder of the tournament and a large part of his province’s campaign from here on in.

SIDELINE SPELL: Tadhg Beirne of Ireland leaves the pitch with an injury. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Simon Easterby is confident that the Six Nations title-chasers will be able to absorb the loss of Tadhg Beirne who has been ruled out for 12 weeks on the back of ankle surgery.

And the Ireland forwards coach has also confirmed that Johnny Sexton should be fit for the next game, against Italy in Rome on Saturday week, despite suffering a groin injury in the same game.