Friday 19 February 2016 23:23, UK
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt says flanker Sean O'Brien, lock Mike McCarthy and wing Dave Kearney are set to miss the rest of the Six Nations.
O'Brien picked up a hamstring injury during last Saturday's 10-9 loss in France, while McCarthy suffered concussion and Kearney injured his shoulder.
The defending champions are seeking a third Six Nations title in succession but are still waiting for their first win of the 2016 tournament, having drawn their opening fixture at home to Wales before suffering that narrow defeat in Paris.
Their next fixture is against England at Twickenham on February 27.
Schmidt told the Irish Times: "Mike McCarthy has seen a specialist now and he's going to effectively re-condition himself and freshen himself up to kick-start next season now.
"That's the latest word, maybe that's not the definitive word. I think for him it's an opportunity to freshen himself up a little bit and that will give him a good entry point to next season.
"Sean is likely to miss the rest of the Six Nations, as is Dave Kearney, but we'll continue to monitor those guys and see how they go."
Schmidt told the Irish Times: "Mike McCarthy has seen a specialist now and he's going to effectively re-condition himself and freshen himself up to kick-start next season now.
"That's the latest word. Maybe that's not the definitive word. I think just for him it's an opportunity to freshen himself up a little bit and that will give him a good entry point to next season.
"Sean is likely to miss the rest of the Six Nations, as is Dave Kearney, but we'll continue to monitor those guys and see how they go."
There are also concerns about fly-half Jonathan Sexton after he rolled his ankle and had to cut short his participation in an open training session in Mullingar on Friday.
But Schmidt said: "Johnny will be fit to train Monday. The problem with rolling your ankle is if you do train on it - and you can train on it - you just get more inflammation, whereas the sooner you stop the inflammation, in 48 hours' time you are up and running, so I wouldn't be concerned at all."
Sexton's latest injury came amidst calls for the number ten to consider changing his physical style of play after he suffered neck and shoulder problems against Wales and aggravated them at the Stade de France.
However, he has recovered now and Schmidt said: "I suppose he put himself in the line of fire because he doesn't take a step back. He is a competitor.
"That's the nature of the beast and there is a lot of that we don't want to change, to be honest."
