The IRFU are this week due to receive a report compiled by the structural engineers charged with evaluating the damage to the North Terrace at Lansdowne Road.
A fire on the Friday evening before Ireland's Test against New Zealand exacerbated some existing damage and forced Irish rugby's governing body, following advice, to close the terrace for the November Test series, which comprised of matches against the All Blacks, Australia and this Saturday's Test against Romania.
The initial indications are that to repair the damage is a relatively straightforward procedure and will begin as a matter of expediency when the IRFU receives the official findings. A spokesperson for the IRFU John Redmond explained: "The union is awaiting the engineers' report but it appears that there is nothing too serious in the remedial work.
"Once the decision was made to close the terrace for the three matches, there was no pressure to rush the report. It is due this week. The indications are that the work to be carried out is reasonably straightforward. As of now there is no question that the terrace would not be available for this season's Six Nations Championship matches."
Given that prognosis the Croke Park issue does not arise and, as Redmond confirmed, the IRFU have not entered into any discussion on the issue with the GAA. The damage to the terracing has already cost the union about €450,000 in lost revenue from the 7,500 that normally populate the North Terrace on match days.
If a problem did arise that precluded that area of the ground from being opened for the Six Nations home games against Italy, Scotland Wales then the IRFU could lose an estimated further €562,500. At present that doomsday scenario doesn't look applicable.
Saturday's game against Romania boasts a 12.30pm kick-off, the early start primarily attributable to television demands. The match is not being shown on the main BBC television network but will be shown on BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ. The latter will also show the Test match between Wales and Australia at the Millennium Stadium.
Romania will announce their team to face Ireland following a morning training session at Merrion Road. The "Oaks" arrived in Dublin following a hard-fought 22-20 victory over Canada in Bucharest at the weekend. The only time the Romanians led was when flanker Alexandru Manta crashed over following a well-marshalled drive by the gargantuan pack.
All eight Romanian forwards who started the match play their club rugby in France including a triumvirate that will be well known to Irish supporters. Number eight Ovidu Tonita lines out with Perpignan as does hooker Marius Tincu. Biarritz prop Petru Balan is one of the top exponents in his position throughout the game.
The Canadians led 20-8 in a match that was played in freezing conditions. A penalty try and Manta's late effort, both converted by Dan Vlad, gave Romania a first victory over Canada. In their previous two meetings, both at World Cups, the Canadians prevailed.
Meanwhile, Leinster coach Michael Cheika will be able to run the rule over several squad and part-time contracted players when a Leinster A side take on Oxford University at Iffley Road on Saturday (2.30). It is the third fixture so far this season at this level and comes on the back of victories over Ulster A in Navan (39-33) and away to Cambridge University (50-24).
Leinster's Australian-born lock Adam Byrnes returns following a knee injury while Des Dillon provides experience in a pack that includes promising young players such as Niall Ronan, Kevin McLaughlin and Simon Crawford.
Rugby league convert Jonny Hepworth is named at outhalf with Eoghan Hickey starting in the centre alongside Greg Stafford.
LEINSTER A (v Oxford): D McAllister; S Grissing, G Stafford, E Hickey, B Burke; J Hepworth, B O'Riordan; J Lyne, B Blaney, N Duffy; A Byrnes, D Dillon; S Crawford, N Ronan, K McLaughlin. Replacements: J Wickham, C O'Byrne, A Dunlop, M Warburton, F O'Loughlin, J Norton, A N Other.
