Ireland call up Quinn Roux after Tadhg Beirne injury blow

It was all going too smoothly.

Tadhg Beirne picked up his fourth man-of-the-match award of an impressive first season with Munster but he also injured his knee during his side's Champions Cup win over Exeter Chiefs. The Kildare native damaged ligaments in the second half of his side's 9-7 victory and, despite playing on for a few minutes, was replaced by Billy Holland in the closing stages. Beirne secured another couple of turnovers in the win, at Thomond Park, taking his total for the pool stages to 13. He has made a reputation for himself as a fierce competitor at the breakdown. Following the game, Munster head coach Johann van Graan confirmed Beirne would be sent for a scan on Monday. It has now transpired that the lock has been ruled out of the first two rounds of the Guinness Six Nations. A fitness update from the IRFU reads:

'Following a scan, versatile forward Tadhg Beirne has been ruled out of the opening two rounds of Ireland's Guinness Six Nations campaign. Quinn Roux, who captained Connacht to victory in Bordeaux on Saturday, has been called up in his place.'

The news comes as Beirne had been lavished with praise - on Baz & Andrew's House of Rugby [from 4:00 below] - and pushed for a starting role in Joe Schmidt's team. Murphy and Trimble were both advocating for Schmidt to find a way of getting Beirne into his starting XV, either in the second or back row, but that may have to wait until later in the tournament. The union also provided updates on Andrew Conway, Jack McGrath, Jack Conan and Rob Kearney, none of whom travelled to Portugal for a five-day training camp.

Adam Byrne, who helped Leinster secure a home Champions Cup quarter-final yesterday, will travel to Portugal for Ireland's training camp this week as Andrew Conway picked up a knock during Munster's round 6 win over Exeter Chiefs. Conway is unable to train this week but will be fully fit to train next week, ahead of Ireland's eagerly-awaited opening clash with England. Having missed the game against Wasps due to a shoulder injury, Jack Conan will continue his treatment at Leinster this week and will be fully fit to train next week. Rob Kearney and Jack McGrath will remain with Leinster in order to gain game-time in the Guinness PRO14 against the Scarlets on Friday. All other players reporting niggles from the weekend's European matches will be managed by the Ireland medical team in Portugal.

The call-up for Roux means he is the sixth Connacht player in Schmidt's squad. He joins Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade, Jack Carty, Ultan Dillane and Tom Farrell in the Ireland camp.