The sweat is on already.
February 6 is inching closer and closer and Joe Schmidt will have too many men racing against time for his liking.
Mike Ross’ Six Nations campaign has been thrown into serious doubt after the prop hobbled off during Leinster’s defeat to Toulon on Saturday.
The Irish veteran, who celebrates his 36th birthday tomorrow, suffered a hamstring injury as the province’s Champions Cup campaign came to an end and Leo Cullen confirmed that it wasn’t looking great for the forward.
“Mike has done his hamstring so we’ll see,” the Leinster boss said. “It is in tact, at least. But it is a significant strain slash tear.”
Ross will have to be assessed before the full extent of his injury can be revealed.
He joins a number of big-hitters in the Irish physio room though with just seven weeks until the start of the Six Nations and Ireland’s first game as they go in the hunt for a historic three-in-a-row.
Iain Henderson is also struggling with a hamstring injury sustained on Ulster duty whilst fellow forward Peter O’Mahony won’t be back until March at the earliest having suffered knee ligament damage during the World Cup.
Tommy Bowe is also fighting for a return since that tournament, Sean O’Brien hasn’t yet featured since he was diagnosed with an inner ear issue and Rob Henshaw’s fractured hand might well heal on time for the tournament but then, of course, there’s a worry about match fitness and the rest.
To top it all off, Jared Payne is still to return from the foot injury that ended his own World Cup dreams.
Seven weeks to go before the defence of the title. It’s going to be a push.
