Justin Bishop's prospects of being available for the World Cup in Australia next October will hang in the balance for the next few days at least after the London Irish and Ireland winger suffered an horrific ankle injury in his club's win over Saracens last Sunday.

Bishop's season is over, though, contrary to initial fears at the time, his World Cup hopes mightn't necessarily be according to London Irish chief executive and director of rugby Conor O'Shea.

"'Bish' suffered a fracture/dislocation of his right ankle and will be operated on in the next few days," said O'Shea yesterday.

"He was taken immediately to a hospital in Oxford and was transferred to a hospital in London today. Hopefully, he'll be operated on later in the week. It's the same injury Paul Wallace and myself had and we'll only know the extent of the damage after they've gone in there and operated on him."

"His fibula is broken, so he'll need plates and pins, but the bones will mend. . . It all depends on the ligament damage.

"Ryan Strudwick had a milder version of the same injury three months ago and played 91 minutes on Sunday. I know the injury pretty intimately," added O'Shea, "and the best-case scenario is that 'Bish' will be back in three-and-a-half to four months".

On that basis, the former Irish full back didn't sound too optimistic on Bishop's behalf, although that best-case scenario would see Bishop resume training in time for the August World Cup warm-up games against Scotland, Wales and Italy, the probable comeback timescale for Keith Wood as well.

And, as O'Shea also pointed out, "it's a big blow for him and for us, but I wouldn't count anything out with 'Bish'. He's a great healer."

Closer to hand, Leinster will be closely monitoring the well-being of Shane Horgan although the Irish winger cum Leinster centre is still only running lightly after tearing a thigh muscle against Scotland on the opening day of the Six Nations and is likely to join Reggie Corrigan, Paul Wallace and Des Dillon on the sidelines.

Matt Williams' most pressing decision would appear to rest between Chris Warner and Nathan Spooner at outhalf, as well as who to nominate as utility backline cover on the bench, Peter McKenna, John McWeeney, Adam Magro or perhaps, at a push, Ulster on-loan signing Paddy Wallace.

By comparison, Munster look in better health for an admittedly tougher-looking assignment away to Leicester and Alan Gaffney will pick from virtually a full-strength squad save for long-time absentee David Wallace and reserve scrumhalf Mike Prendergast, who suffered a dislocated collarbone in last Friday's run-out against Connacht which will sideline him for up to four months. Dominic Malone is set to understudy Peter Stringer.

Jeremy Staunton and Rob Henderson underlined their return to fitness by playing 60 and 40 minutes of Friday's game while, of course, Paul O'Connell and Anthony Horgan, whose injury-disrupted campaigns has confined them to a month's activity before Christmas, are also back in the frame.

Aside from choosing between Rob Henderson and Jason Holland at inside centre, and perming two from three in the second-row, Gaffney's main concerns are likely to be the composition of the bench, and specifically choosing between Mossie Lawlor and Dominic Crotty, as well as Dennis Leamy or Eddie Halvey as backrow cover.

The ERC yesterday confirmed that for the first time all the Heineken Cup quarter-finals will have Television Match Officials on duty with a video referee on hand to assist the referee when requested.

"We introduced the TMO to the semi-finals last year and, with the increasing profile of the tournament, and the growth and importance of these games, it is right to match the expectations of all spectators. After consultations with the quarterfinalists, we can confirm that TMOs will operate at the four venues," said McGrath.

The IRFU's committee member John Hussey has been appointed chairman of the Celtic League Association.

A member of St Mary's College RFC, the Dublin-based businessman is also Chairman of the IRFU Strategic Planning Group; Chairman of the IRFU Charitable Trust and also a member of the IRFU Finance and Representative Games Committee.