Hendrick to miss Switzerland game

Martin O'Neill's central midfield options will be limited in Friday night's friendly against Switzerland at the Aviva Stadium with Jeff Hendrick likely to join Harry Arter as a withdrawal from the squad.

The Derby County midfielder has a shoulder injury which is set to rule him out of international duty, and he’ll join Arter, who has an Achilles problem, on the sidelines as Ireland’s preparations for Euro 2016 begin in earnest.

Assistant boss Roy Keane said: “Jeff sat it out and is struggling. He had a fall at the weekend and I’m sure you’ve had a medical update. He’s had previous problems with his shoulder and I think Jeff might go back to Derby to get it properly looked at.”

Lowry can compete with world’s elite

The WGC matchplay begins today and Shane Lowry has a tricky tie against Germany's Martin Kaymer starting at 2.10pm Irish time.

And the Offaly man is confident he can compete with the game’s elite despite not sharing the gruelling regime adopted by many on tour.

In an interview with Johnny Watterson, he said: “I definitely don’t see myself the same as everybody else. I do things differently. I’m not one that goes and hits balls on the range all day. But I’ll go and play golf on my own.”

D’Arcy says bring in bonus points

In his column todayGordon D'Arcy looks at the importance of playing heads-up rugby, something he feels is missing in the Irish game from grassroots through to the senior side, and he suggests a bonus point system could help the Six Nations sides start to bridge the gap between themselves and the Southern Hemisphere nations.

He writes: “Introducing a bonus point system to the Six Nations would require a significant change in the Northern Hemisphere club fixtures and the Six Nations itself but it would prove of enormous value in closing the gap on the Southern Hemisphere.

“It would change the way every team approached the game. It would bring the Argentinian blueprint to this part of the world.”