Felix Jones targets Ireland call-up

Munster fullback Felix Jones said he was extremely disappointed to miss out on inclusion in the matchday squad for the Six Nations showdown with France, having been part of the extended group during the week.

But the 26-year old said he is not going to dwell on missing out and is hopeful impressive displays for Munster at the business end of the season will lead to inclusion in the Ireland squad for the two-match tour of Argentina in June.

Chomping at the bit
Jones won the last of his five caps against Canada last summer and is chomping at the bit to play for his country again.

“Everyone wants to be involved. Obviously it’s a massive disappointment not being involved. Getting to work with Joe (Schmidt) was great. Working with top quality coaches, you’re going to improve as a player, getting another coach’s point of view. You take the positives you can from it but you try and keep the hunger if you’re not getting in there.

“Everyone wants to play for Ireland and everyone wants to get into the group now. It’s obviously a successful group now so it’s not going to be an easy task.

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“There’s been great consistency in the team over the campaign and they were rewarded for their performances, so you’ve got to be 20-30 per cent better than the guys that are there to get in,” said Jones.

He watched the match with his family in their Kerry holiday home and admitted it can be unusual to watch a team you have trained with and know the moves as they happen.

Trimble's try
"You know what's coming or you have an idea of plays so if something comes off, then it's great. Andrew Trimble's try at the weekend, you could see it coming if you knew what was going on, so it was great to see those training park runs come off.

“Like anything, if you’re watching a Munster match or watch any team that plays a pattern, you have an idea what’s going to happen. You can see, obviously the opposition can’t see it,” added the former Leinster academy player who moved to Munster in 2009.

Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg, meanwhile, has been given a three-week ban following his red card in the Six Nations match against Wales on Saturday for smashing his shoulder into the jaw of Wales outhalf Dan Biggar.

Hogg – whose team went on to suffer their heaviest ever defeat in the tournament – 3-51 – will not be freed to play again until April 6th.

Wales skipper Sam Warburton is likely to miss "several months" of action after dislocating his shoulder in the closing stages of Saturday's clash at the Millennium Stadium, his club side Cardiff Blues have announced.

Warburton will now miss the rest of the RaboDirect Pro12 season after it was confirmed he would undergo surgery this week.