Paul O’Connell sits out training

Ireland team manager Michael Kearney is optimistic that Paul O’Connell will be able to train with the team on Thursday after he sat out yesterday’s session ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations championship game against Wales at the Aviva stadium.

The Ireland captain withdrew from the team on the morning of the Scotland game with a chest infection but has been up and about for the past two days and also took a vocal part in last night’s team meeting.

Kearney explained: “Paul didn’t participate in today’s training (he was pitch-side) but hopefully he will be able to do so fully on Thursday. We’re pretty confident he’ll make a full recovery (in time for the Welsh match). He’s been out in the fresh air for the past two days.”

The player has responded well to a course of antibiotics.

Cian Healy didn't take part in the running at training but did participate in the scrum session. Rob Kearney sat out training as a precaution because of a kick to the calf he received during the victory over Scotland, albeit one that the player has no recollection of the precise moment it occurred. He will train on Thursday.

Neither scrumhalf Eoin Reddan (calf) nor wing Luke Fitzgerald (abdominal strain) will be available for selection for the Welsh game. They also will not play for Leinster either but Mick Kearney explained that he expected them to play in a RaboDirect match the following weekend.

There is a similar timeframe, recovery wise, for Tommy Bowe (Ulster) and Donnacha Ryan (Munster), both of whom are expected to return from injury the weekend after next, seven days out from the England game.

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt will announce the team to play Wales on Thursday after which a number of players will be released to play for their respective provinces this weekend.