The successes of Ireland's Six Nations campaigns often depend on the number of injuries: contrast the almost perfect injury record in the 2009 Grand Slam campaign with the ravaged side that stumbled through the 2013 Six Nations, culminating with Peter O'Mahony standing on the wing in a risible defeat to Italy.
This year, we've had a relatively clean bill of health: Jonathan Sexton missed the opening two games as per, while the only other injury worry has been Rob Kearney, whose groin strain sustained against France means he will likely miss out on the Welsh game.
This morning, however, Joe Schmidt has been hit by another injury blow: Andrew Trimble will miss the final two games of the championship having broken a bone in his hand. Trimble sustained the injury in Ulster's Pro12 win over Treviso on Friday night.
That same game did, however, feature a return for Jared Payne, who may be in contention for a return to the Irish backline, considering the Kearney-shaped hole that needs filling. Trimble's injury probably makes it more likely that he returns, as a previous option was to move Simon Zebo to the wing and install Trimble on the wing. That could still happen, with Craig Gilroy selected instead of Trimble, but a return for Payne would seem the most likely.
How would you rejig the back line?
[BBC]
