O’Brien set for London Irish

selected in the second row. Yesterday, the IRFU confirmed that the veteran lock has had surgery and will be out of action for two months, effectively ruling Toner out of the Six Nations and Leinster’s European Champions Cup quarter-final meeting with Ulster at the end of March. Joe Schmidt will hope to have Munster lock Tadhg Beirne back in the reckoning for the Italy game on February 24. Beirne suffered a knee injury during Munster’s win over Exeter last month. Speaking at yesterday’s captain’s run at Murrayfield, Ireland captain Rory Best (right) conceded that Ireland will miss Toner in the coming months. ‘It’s massive,’ said Best. ‘He’s a great player. To lose a player like that and the intellectual property he brings around the lineout — he’ll be a loss. ‘It gives an opportunity to somebody else. Quinn Roux was great when he came on (against England). This is an opportunity for him and for James Ryan.’ Sean O’Brien has emerged as an injury doubt for today’s must-win game against Scotland. The Leinster openside was promoted to the starting line-up this week, but the 31-yearold sat out yesterday’s captain’s run. O’Brien’s injury worry comes after it emerged that the flanker will leave Leinster to link up with Declan Kidney’s London Irish after the World Cup in Japan. It is understood that O’Brien has signed a three-year deal with the London club. Meanwhile, Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw is expecting an Irish backlash this afternoon. ‘Ireland will be hurting from England winning the physical battle, so that will be tough for us,’ Laidlaw said.