A calf injury has had the better of Johnny Sexton ruling him out of Ireland‘s Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday.
The Leinster fly-half did some light running in training on Tuesday but was still feeling some tightness in his calf and will not be considered for the trip to Murrayfield.
And he will not be the only key player to miss out with the news that Munster flanker Peter O’Mahony is also unavailable due to a tight hamstring.
Joe Schmidt will have to wait to see if Andrew Trimble (groin) will be fit but he has boosted by the return to full fitness of Keith Earls and Sean O’Brien.