News: Injuries to Anthony Foley and John Kelly have prevented them from rejoining the expanded 31-man Ireland squad, which will return to camp today to prepare for next Sunday's pivotal RBS Six Nations tie against Wales. As a result, the young Leinster duo of Jamie Heaslip and Robert Kearney have been called up.
Foley turned an ankle in Munster's surprising Celtic League defeat against Glasgow at Thomond Park on Saturday, while Kelly has an ongoing groin problem.
The likelihood is neither would have made the 22 to face Wales, which will be named on Wednesday, though Foley would have been a viable option, if not to start, then on the bench.
Ireland's main injury concern, Paul O'Connell, appears increasingly pessimistic about his chances of recovering from the strain to a shoulder/AC joint he sustained in the defeat to France nine days ago, admitting the rate of recovery slowed down as the week progressed, and saying he was no better than a 50-50 chance of playing at Lansdowne Road.
The Irish medical staff will examine O'Connell's injury later today and hope to have a clearer picture then.
Conceivably, he will be named in the second row on Wednesday, alongside either Donncha O'Callaghan or Malcolm O'Kelly, and given until Friday or even Saturday to prove his fitness, with Mick O'Driscoll the likeliest call-up to the replacements bench if his fellow Munster lock is ruled out.
In addition to the 22 on duty in Paris, those in camp are Marcus Horan, O'Driscoll, Matt McCullough, Neil Best, Heaslip, Denis Hickie, Girvan Dempsey, Barry Murphy and Kearney.
Whatever about their shenanigans off the pitch, Wales are untroubled by any significant injury concerns and are expected to name an unchanged side - either tomorrow evening or on Wednesday morning - from that which overcame Scotland yesterday week.
The one apparent selection issue for the newly, and controversially, installed head coach, Scott Johnson, is whether to recall Gavin Henson to the squad and the replacements bench after the celebrated centre's successful return from suspension for the Ospreys, in the 22-18 win over Reivers, at the weekend.
• Dermot Murphy, the former Connacht flanker and Dublin-based anaesthetist, passed away on Saturday morning after falling ill on Thursday.
He won five Connacht Senior Cups with UCG (or NUIG) in 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1967.
Murphy, who was an abrasive wing forward, had the distinction of being a member of the last Connacht team to win in Ravenhill (6-3) in 1960.
