The returning trio of Test-winning Lions, Seán O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip and Johnny Sexton, are expected to be named in the starting line-up at 2pm on Thursday against France at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday .
Unless the “minor” hamstring strain which derailed his intended comeback in the Stadio Olimpico last Saturday flairs again, the expectation is that O’Brien will be named to play his first Test since the defeat to New Zealand in November 2013 after recovering from two interim shoulder operations.
He trained on Monday and Tuesday, prior to Wednesday’s rest day. This followed his 51-minute return for his first game of any kind since September for the Wolfhounds in their defeat to the Saxons at Musgrave Park two weeks ago.
Although, by his own good-natured admission, he “blew up” after 20 minutes of that comeback, O’Brien was deemed sharp enough to start against Italy. But he then missed out and cut a disconsolate figure; the Ireland management will be just as keen that he plays as much of Saturday’s match as possible.
The game came just too soon for Jamie Heaslip – who has been troubled by shoulder and knee injuries – before he trained fully last Friday and, likewise, all of this week, as has Sexton after a 12-week absence following a third concussion in the calendar year.
Best bet
That trio of changes will infuse the starting XV with an additional 133 test caps compared to last Saturday's line-up in Rome. Such is the high esteem and value in which Rory Best is held by Schmidt, and the rest of the coaching ticket, that the hooker will probably be retained in the starting frontrow provided he passes the return to play protocols after being withdrawn in the 48th minute when suffering concussion against Italy.
In addition to the aforementioned trio of Lions, Cian Healy looks likely to be recalled to the bench. This would put him in line for his first appearance at international level since Ireland beat France in Paris last March to clinch the Six Nations title.
Healy has also been sidelined since September, with a hamstring injury, but has trained fully this week. Unless the management think their needs are better suited by the loosehead being released to play for Leinster against the Dragons at the RDS this Sunday, they will want him involved in this Six Nations campaign as much as possible.
Given his versatility, Jordi Murphy is likely to be named on the bench as he can cover across the backrow, after his hard-working first Six Nations start at number eight in Rome. This would be particularly tough on Tommy O'Donnell, who was promoted to start in O'Brien's place at short notice in the Stadio Olimpico, and was Ireland's best performer at the breakdown, second-highest tackler with 13, behind Robbie Henshaw, and scored Ireland's second try in what was also his first championship start.
Likewise, given Ian Madigan's ability to cover inside centre and outhalf as well as his proven impact off the bench for province and country, Ian Keatley seems likely to miss out on the match-day 23 after also making his first Six Nations' start in Rome. Eoin Reddan, another to have trained fully this week, also looks set to be recalled to the bench in an otherwise unchanged 23-man squad.
IRELAND (possible): Kearney, Bowe, Payne, Henshaw, Zebo; Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best or Cronin, Ross, Toner, O'Connell (capt), O'Mahony, O'Brien, Heaslip. Replacements: Healy, Cronin or Strauss, Moore, Henderson, Murphy, Reddan, Madigan, Jones.
