Ryan in line to face Italy

Donnacha Ryan is expected to be available for Ireland's RBS Six Nations clash with Italy on Saturday but the game could come too soon for Johnny Sexton and Peter O'Mahony.

Ryan was ruled out of the defeat to Scotland due to a medial knee ligament problem, although the Munster lock was included in the travelling party as a reserve.

A calf muscle problem forced Sexton to miss the trip to Murrayfield, while O'Mahony was unavailable for selection due to a hamstring strain and both players will be assessed when the squad return to training at Carton House on Monday.

While there are doubts over their availability for Saturday's trip to Rome, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is confident of having Ryan back.

“Certainly Donnacha Ryan should be right. I am not sure about Johnny or Pete so I will have a look at that on Monday or Tuesday,” said Schmidt.

"We're going to wait and see. Johnny wasn't that far away so he could come into the picture."

Ireland were made to pay for their slow start to the game at Murrayfield, trailing 14-0 after just 20 minutes, and, while they managed to take the lead in the 61st minute, two late penalties from Greig Laidlaw sealed a famous win for Scotland.

Despite the defeat, Schmidt has ruled out making sweeping changes to his side for the game against Conor O'Shea's Italy.

"We will look at the footage and make some decisions beyond that," Schmidt is quoted as saying in the Irish Independent. "But I don't think there is going to be too many knee-jerk reactions. These players have worked really hard to get to the position of being selected in the first place and so you don't suddenly turn around and throw someone else into the mire."

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