Farrell is Schmidt’s chief concern ahead of Rome

IRELAND reassemble in Kildare today as they begin to plot their Italian job on Sunday.

Chris Farrell’s knee injury is Joe Schmidt’s chief concern.

The centre started against Scotland and was released to play for Munster against Southern Kings on Friday and limped off 18 minutes into the Irish Independent Park clash.

Johann van Graan said the decision to take Farrell off was precautionary, but news of a knee injury is a worry given he only returned from an anterior cruciate ligament issue earlier this season.

Robbie Henshaw is due to return to training this week, Garry Ringrose is also close.

Schmidt will update his squad in the next 24 hours, with Iain Henderson and Kieran Marmion likely to return after coming through their provincial returns for Ulster and Connacht over the weekend.