Ireland duo James Ryan and Ryan Baird have both been ruled out of this weekend’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland.
Head coach Andy Farrell with have to do without both locks, with Ryan unavailable as he goes through return to play protocols while Baird is also out with a back problem.
Both have not been included in the matchday squad for the game in Dublin, with Ryan heading back to his club side Leinster for further medical assessments.
The injury issue means that Farrell has called-up uncapped duo Ross Molony and Joe McCarthy.
It could mean a return to the starting line-up for Iain Henderson, who came off the bench for Ryan in the 32-15 win at Twickenham.
If so it would be his first start in the Guinness Six Nations since the final game of last year’s Championship, the 32-18 win over England in Dublin.
Ireland could still win the Championship on Super Saturday, but will have to beat Scotland at the Alivia Stadium and also hope Grand Slam hopefuls France come unstuck against England later that day.
Ireland squad for Guinness Six Nations round 5 v Scotland:
Backs
Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 36 caps Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 2 caps Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 31 caps Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 11 caps Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 5 caps Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 30 caps Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 16 caps Mack Hansen (Connacht) 3 caps Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 56 caps James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 3 caps Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 19 caps James Lowe (Leinster) 11 caps Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 95 caps Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 41 caps Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 104 caps (Captain)
Forwards
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 22 caps Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 29 caps Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 26 caps Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 16 caps Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 56 caps Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 115 caps Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 6 caps Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 67 caps Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 25 caps Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 47 caps Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen) uncapped Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin) uncapped Ross Molony (Leinster/UCD) uncapped Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 83 caps Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 6 caps Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 4 caps Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 39 caps
