Niall Hogan, selected as Ireland's replacement scrum-half for next Saturday's Five Nations' opener against Scotland at Lansdowne Road, sustained a fractured cheekbone during London Irish's 41-16 defeat to Sale yesterday and is likely to be sidelined for at least a month.

"It's never-ending. Someone somewhere isn't smiling down on us," reflected Irish coach Brian Ashton last night, as Hogan joined Conor McGuinness and Brad Free as the third scrum-half to be sidelined with injury in the build-up to the Five Nations.

"We haven't decided on a replacement yet and probably won't make a decision until tomorrow," Ashton said.

Realistically, the options are Stephen Bell, chosen on the Irish `A' side to play their Scottish counterparts next Friday evening at Donnybrook, or the `A' replacement scrum-half Stephen McIvor. The selectors may well opt to promote McIvor ahead of the relatively-inexperienced Dungannon man, given McIvor's more proven temperament.

At least there was better news for Ashton regarding Paul Wallace, the Saracens tight-head whose understudy, Peter Clohessy, is already injured. Wallace was taken off with a shoulder injury during his club's defeat of Richmond on Saturday. "I have spoken to Paul twice today . . . He will definitely be fit to play against Scotland," Ashton said.

That appears to be the extent of the damage over the weekend. Malcolm O'Kelly and Eric Miller - both of whom have shown distinct signs of fatigue lately - were rested by their clubs London Irish and Leicester yesterday.