It's rare that Ireland have so many injury concerns as they do right now. Comparing the team that faces Wales next Sunday to the team that started against France in the final pool game of the World Cup will tell you that at least five players are unavailable through injury, with doubts over a further three in the squad.
Included in that three is the latest to fall to the injury curse - Luke Fitzgerald. The Leinster flier suffered a set-back at the open training session at the Aviva Stadium yesterday. The problem is believed to be with Fitzgerald's knee, and he is being reported as a major doubt for the opening game against Wales.
The next scheduled IRFU medical update won't happen until Tuesday, giving Fitzgerald plenty of time to get scanned and hopefully deliver a positive report, but his potential absence would be a blow to Schmidt.
Fitzgerald's form and versatility, as well as his positive impact when he came in in that dreadful World Cup quarter-final should have meant that he would be a key part of the matchday squad. His injury limits Schmidt's options on the wing, in the centre, and the utility back reserve.
Schmidt yesterday lined up a potential starting line-up at the open training session, but it looked more like an experiment with the majority of front-liners rather than the exact 1-15 for Wales. While it may not be the team, it does give an insight into where some players are being considered, and where others are in the pipeline. Simon Zebo was at full-back, Jared Payne at outside centre with Ulster-mate Stuart McCloskey. Paddy Jackson was paired with Connor Murray, while Sean O'Brien moved to blindside to accommodate Josh van der Flier at 7, and Stander at 8.
Full line-up yesterday: Zebo, Dave Kearney, Payne, McCloskey, Trimble, Jackson, Murray, McGrath, Best, White, Ryan, McCarthy, O'Brien, van der Flier, Stander.
Naturally, you'd expect Jamie Heaslip, Devin Toner, and probably Rhys Ruddock to be involved - as well as Keith Earls and Rob Kearney. Johnny Sexton may also come into the reckoning should he be available, and Robbie Henshaw is a likely starter if he gets through Connacht's crucial game against the Scarlets.
See Also: Brian O'Driscoll Has Some Insight Into One Of Joe Schmidt's Major Selection Decisions
Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
