Joe Schmidt taking no risks with Rob Kearney’s fitness

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt is taking no chances with fullback Rob Kearney's World Cup fitness.

Simon Zebo deputised at fullback in Saturday's 21-13 defeat to England at Twickenham, Kearney sitting out despite being branded fit for selection.

The 29-year-old Leinster star suffered a bruised knee in training last week, but head coach Schmidt said he had remained available for the game.

Instead he opted to hand winger Zebo another run at fullback in preparation for the 25-year-old covering Kearney during the World Cup.

"Rob Kearney will do moderated training in the first part of this week," an Ireland injury update statement read.

Zebo struggled positionally against England, Anthony Watson catching him out for the second of the hosts' two first-half tries.

Wales fielded first-choice fullback Leigh Halfpenny for Saturday's 23-19 victory over Italy, but the Toulon star suffered knee ligament damage and is now out of the World Cup.

The ultra-cautious approach to Kearney’s situation at the start of this week may well have been coloured by the misfortune that struck Wales and Halfpenny at the weekend.

It was also confirmed scrumhalf Conor Murray continues to follow the return-to-play protocols after suffering concussion against England.

Schmidt is confident Murray will be fit for Ireland’s World Cup opener against Canada in Cardiff on Saturday week.

Johnny Sexton and Zebo both limped out of the closing stages at Twickenham, but Schmidt revealed their only issues as cramp on Saturday – and that was backed up by Monday's injury bulletin.

“Johnny Sexton and Simon Zebo suffered cramp towards the end of the game against England and were removed as a precautionary measure,” it added.

“Both are feeling no ill-effects and trained today.”