Sam Warburton will be fit to lead Wales against Ireland in Cardiff next week after a scan on his right knee revealed nothing worse than bruising but the Bath prop Paul James will miss the rest of the Six Nations after breaking a bone in his hand against France.
Warburton will train with Wales when they report back this week, along with his fellow flanker Dan Lydiate whose scan on a hip injury also revealed no damage. The 2013 champions, who lost their crown to Ireland last year, got back into the title race when their 20-13 win over France was followed by England’s 19-9 defeat in Dublin.
Ireland are the only remaining unbeaten team in the tournament and they have a remarkable record in Cardiff, losing only twice in the Welsh capital in the championship in the last 32 years. They expect to have their fly-half and talisman Jonathan Sexton available for selection after he limped off against England having felt a twinge in his hamstring.
Ireland on Monday described the problem, which occurred as Sexton converted the only try of the match, as “minor”. The champions hope the flanker Sean O’Brien and the centre Jared Payne will be fit after suffering knocks to the head against England. They are both following the graduated return to play concussion protocols.
The Ireland wing Simon Zebo said the squad were not talking about the grand slam, a feat achieved by Ireland once since 1948. “Our focus is Wales. On their day can beat anyone and it will be a huge test for us. They’re an unbelievably dangerous side and it will be the biggest game of our season. We live in a kind of bubble and talk of the grand slam is for those on the outside.”
France will not win the title and their unhappy year got worse when the scrum-half Morgan Parra, who made his first Test start against Wales for nine months, was ruled out for 10 weeks after suffering ligament damage in his right knee. The centre Wesley Fofana is likely to miss both their final two matches having torn a thigh muscle but is likely to be back for Clermont Auvergne’s European Champions Cup home quarter-final with Northampton next month. His club-mate Parra has been ruled out until the middle of the following month.