THE IRELAND management had been bracing themselves for something like this, and like their counterparts, assuredly don’t want to be seeing crying in public. Hence, Paul McNaughton described their casualty list as “the usual fare” after the typically attritional two- week finale to the Heineken Cup group phase. Even so, it makes for grim reading.

Sod’s law also decreed those deemed hors de combat for the opening RBS Six Nations joust in Rome can largely be located in the one area, namely the back three; although the damage goes well beyond there.

Already without their first two fullbacks, Geordan Murphy and Rob Kearney, for the duration of the tournament, and Andrew Trimble having been ruled out for the Italian job and the ensuing visit of France to the Aviva a week later, they were formally joined on the sidelines yesterday for the opening game or two by Jamie Heaslip (badly bruised ankle), Shane Horgan (knee) and John Hayes (grade two groin tear).

Furthermore, as with Horgan, Tommy Bowe was seeing a specialist yesterday in Chester to ascertain the extent of his worrying knee injury.

“Tommy will hopefully be okay but we won’t know until after he leaves the surgeon today,” said McNaughton. Were Bowe also ruled out, it would leave Ireland without five outside backs who have 208 Test caps and 69 Test tries between them; and four of them are Lions.

In light of Murphy’s and Kearney’s absence, Ireland were already resigned to giving their replacement a first Six Nations start at fullback. Keith Earls made his debut at fullback against Canada in Declan Kidney’s first game, and Luke Fitzgerald did start there against Samoa, but promptly suffered a knee injury which sidelined him until the last two weeks, since when he has played on the wing.

Significantly, the only other outside back left from the original squad selection, Gavin Duffy (who won his ninth and 10th caps at fullback on the summer ’09 tour to north America) has been re-routed to the Irish A team to play Scottish in Netherdale (Borders’ territory) on Friday night.

Having just returned from injury himself last week, Duffy is in need of game time and now has an opportunity to press his claims for inclusion against the Azzurri. Ian Whitten and Andrew Browne have been called up to the A squad for the injured Keith Matthews and Donncha Ryan.

With Hayes sidelined, opportunity now also knocks for Tony Buckley on Friday night. Jerry Flannery is “making progress” and could be available to play a club or provincial game in two or three weeks, but with Rory Best still “doubtful” due to the popped rib cartilage he suffered two weeks ago – leaving Seán Cronin as the only hooker in the senior squad – Damien Varley may also be in line for promotion. Tomás O’Leary and others will also be out to prove a point. The Wolfhounds in Netherdale has suddenly assumed an importance not exactly in keeping with its billing.

Heaslip, Horgan and Hayes are all likely to miss the French game as well, though McNaughton said “We have no evidence to believe any of them are out for the championship.” Given Heaslip first sustained his injury early on away to Clermont, yet played the full 80 a week later, missed the Christmas derbies, reappeared for the first hour against the Ospreys, hasn’t played since and was yesterday being seen in England, it’s all a little puzzling.

It must be particularly galling too for the in-form Horgan, who has a patella problem below the knee which will require an injection tomorrow before his likely return can be gauged.

Of some consolation has been the form of Mike Ross and Seán O’Brien, hitherto peripheral figures in the Irish shake-up.

“Seán played in November against Samoa,” said McNaughton. “There’s a lot of competition in the backrow, it’s not as if Seán has emerged in October. He was there in November, he’s been in the squad, all the coaches know his potential and his form has obviously been outstanding over the last couple of months.”

McNaughton acknowledged Leinster tighthead Ross’s improved form over the last four Heineken Cup matches, while defensive coach Les Kiss said in addition to his set-piece work, Ross “has done his job around the park better than he ever has”.

“It may not look good at moment,” admitted Kiss with regard to the injury crisis, “but we’ve ambitions to do well in this tournament, and we think we can. We’ve been building a panel for a while and the exposure a lot of those guys have got at Heineken Cup level in recent times is going to serve us well. There are a few more injuries than we would have liked but now it’s an opportunity for other guys to stand up. We’re not going to put this Six Nations away and build for the World Cup, we want to get a job done here.”

IRELAND'S CASUALTY LIST

Rob Kearney(knee)

Out for the Six Nations

Geordan Murphy(ankle)

Out for the Six Nations

Andrew Trimble(broken hand)

Out for Italy and France games

Jamie Heaslip(ankle)

Out for Italy and France games.

Shane Horgan(knee)

Out for Italy and France games.

John Hayes(groin)

Out for Italy and France games.

Jerry Flannery(calf)

Out for Italy and France games at least.

Rory Best(ribs)

Doubtful.

Tommy Bowe(knee)

Doubtful.