Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has admitted that Dave Foley is likely to miss all of Ireland's Six Nations defence.

The 26-year-old Munster second-row will have to undergo surgery on a wrist ligament injury, which could rule him out of action for 10 to 12 weeks.

However, there is better news in relation to Conor Murray and Dave Kearney with both players improving their fitness ahead of next week's opening game against Italy - although its too early to say for certain if they will be available for the trip to Rome.