Ryan Baird in race to return for Ireland's Six Nations opener in France

One of Ireland's standout players through the November window, Baird was injured last Saturday against the Springboks

Ryan Baird suffered a fractured tibia during Ireland's defeat to South Africa. Pic: ©INPHO/Gary Carr

Ryan Baird is looking at an absence of somewhere between eight and twelve weeks after fracturing his tibia in last Saturday’s 24-13 defeat to South Africa. 

The Six Nations starts ten weeks from now.

Andy Farrell’s side kicks the tournament off away to France on February 5th in what will be the first ever Thursday fixture in the tournament’s history. Return in eight weeks and he could make that. Get back in 12 and he could miss three rounds of the tournament.

It's a tight window.

The versatile forward made the No.6 shirt his own during the November window and has now started the last half-dozen for Ireland on the blindside going back to the and including the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal.

“Yeah, I thought he played great,” said Cullen. “That's frustrating for Ryan more than anybody else, very much. Watching him you’re thinking that he’s really kicking on here now. So yeah, it's not a great time for us but it is what it is. No point crying, is there?” 

Joe McCarthy sat out the last month, as he has the entire season to date, following a foot injury suffered with the British and Irish Lions last summer, but he is now back training with Leinster and likely to make a competitive return next week against Harlequins.

“We just want to be sensible with Joe. He trained today and he will ramp it up again later in the week and certainly be good to go next week hopefully but, again, let’s just try and get a player back safely who has been out for a while.” 

Ireland’s recent exertions will see Leinster have to do without the versatile Jamie Osborne for up to four months as a result of the shoulder injury he suffered against New Zealand in Chicago. Not good either.

Robbie Henshaw and Tommy O’Brien are unavailable for this Friday’s trip to the Dragons due to a hamstring injury and a head knock respectively. Will Connor and James Culhane are also on the absent list since injuries suffered a month back against Zebre.

The Dragons tie is the first of ten games for the province in as many weeks.