Ireland outhalf Ronan O'Gara will sit out training this week after he picked up an ankle injury in yesterday's Six Nations defeat to France in Croke Park.
The Munster number 10 finished the match but his ankle swelled up last night and Eddie O'Sullivan has confirmed he will keep the weight off the injury for the time being.
The Ireland coach is confident it will not jeopardise his participation in the England game back at Croke Park in two weeks time.
"Ronan had an ankle problem. We don't what happened because he finished the game,"said O'Sullivan today. "He must have gone over on it late in the match because he has no memory of it happening. It was a little bit sore after the game.
"We iced it and he was walking around okay but then last night at the meal it swelled up quite a bit.
"We're confident it's just a knock and nothing sinister," added the coach. "But it's sensible not to put any pressure on it so he won't be training this week."
As expected O'Sullivan's plans for England will include captain Brian O'Driscoll and scrumhalf Peter Stringer after the pair missed rugby's dramatic debut in GAA headquarters.
A hamstring injury meant O'Driscoll's explosive pace and relentless tackling were missed in Ireland's midfield yesterday, while a cracked bone in Stringer's hand kept him from delivering the typically quick ball his backs have become accustomed to.
Both will return to the training ground next Monday. "Brian and Peter will be fine for England," said O'Sullivan. "Time was against them for France but England won't be a problem - unless something unforeseen happens.
"The plan for both of them is that they'll take full part in training next Monday. This week they'll continue their rehab."
The game against England has now become a defining one for this Irish side, of whom so much was expected before the tournament.
After a hard fought win over Wales in Cardiff and a truly devastating last minute defeat in a war of attrition against France yesterday, the character of the team is sure to be tested.
England's visit to Croke Park has obvious historical connotations, but if O'Sullivan's side were to lose to the 'auld enemy', all hopes of a championship or Triple Crown would go with it, and preparations for September's World Cup in France would be decidedly more downbeat.
Though there is a lot to be said for the 'underdogs' tag.
France coach Bernard Laporte certainly believes he has delivered a blow to Ireland's confidence. The Frenchman claims he had intended psychological blow this weekend, against a side the hosts will meet in the group stages of the World Cup.
"The objective of the day was to prevent Ireland from winning the Grand Slam," he said. "Us, we are still not sure of claming the Six Nations and still less of winning the Grand Slam. But we have at least prevented a major rival, who had a favourable run of fixtures, from doing it.
"We hold the aces. And as we are going to play them again in the group stages in the World Cup, I had said to my players: 'We mustn't let them come to the World Cup having seen them claim a Grand Slam'."
