Ireland have confirmed that Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose and Mack Hansen are set to return for their final match of the Guinness Six Nations against Italy in Rome on Saturday.
A duel between the two best nines on planet rugby is a mouth-watering aspect of the likely Six Nations title decider between Ireland and France.
Connacht started and finished strongly to beat Benetton in a 38-30 bonus-point victory in a topsy-turvy BKT United Rugby Championship clash.
Prop Tadhg Furlong is out of Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations opener against England through injury.
Even with uncertainty over hooker and left wing, Ireland's XV for their Six Nations opener is set to be distinctly blue-tinted.
Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has named uncapped Leinster prop Jack Boyle in a 36-man squad for the Guinness Six Nations.
Connacht were left to rue Sean Jansen’s 21st-minute red card as they fell to a 28-14 defeat to the Vodacom Bulls in their BKT United Rugby Championship clash at Dexcom Stadium.
Replacement Matthew Devine’s last-minute intercept try topped off a comfortable 31-7 United Rugby Championship win for Connacht over Dragons.
The second Emerging Ireland tour in South Africa gave coaching an insight into the talent coming the famed system and didn't disappoint